desperation
desperation Lexical Profile
desperation Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A state of extreme distress and hopelessness, typically one that leads to rash, urgent, or extreme behavior.
"In sheer desperation, the stranded hikers burned their spare clothing to signal the rescue helicopter."
Reckless or frantic urgency born of a dire situation or a lack of alternatives.
"The struggling company's sudden price cuts had an unmistakable air of desperation."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'despair' emphasizes a passive feeling of complete hopelessness, 'desperation' implies an urgent, frantic state of distress that drives someone to take extreme or reckless action.
• Rhymes for desperation
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Old French desperation, from Latin desperationem, a noun of action from the verb desperare ('to lose hope'), composed of de- ('away from') and sperare ('to hope').