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Definition of desperado

desperado

/ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/
des · pe · ra · do
Plural:desperadoes
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desperado Lexical Profile

desperado Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A bold, reckless, or violent outlaw, especially in the historical American Old West.

Example

"Classic Western films often romanticize the figure of the lone desperado riding across the desert frontier."

2

A desperate or reckless person ready to take extreme risks without regard for consequences.

Example

"The speculative market attracted financial desperadoes willing to gamble everything on a single volatile trade."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for desperado

• Rhymes for desperado

• Nearby Words

despair
despairing
despairingly
desperado
desperate
desperately
desperateness

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century as a pseudo-Spanish alteration of English 'desperate', modeled on old Spanish 'desperado' (modern Spanish 'desesperado'), ultimately from Latin 'desperatus', the past participle of 'desperare' ('to despair').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Desperado. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/desperado
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