desperate
At wit's end
Desperate describes an extreme state driven by urgency or hopelessness.
A desperate person has exhausted normal options and will try anything: desperate measures, a desperate attempt to save the company.
The word can describe situations themselves: desperate poverty, a desperate shortage of supplies.
Someone desperate for something craves it intensely: I'm desperate for a cigarette.
A desperate criminal is dangerous because they have nothing to lose.
Wildly anxious or desperate
- urgentNeeding immediate attention
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
- last-ditchFinal desperate attempt
time-sensitive · eleventh-hour · do-or-die · emergency · crisis · dire · immediate · crunch-time
Extremely serious or urgent
- plightDifficult, dangerous situation
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- perilSerious threat of harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
straits · hardship · adversity · distress · trouble · destitute · impoverished · starving
Beyond possibility of success
- futilityLack of purpose
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- bleakDreary and without cheer
- desolationState of complete emptiness
resignation · defeat · despondent · forlorn · dejected · discouraged · dismal · gloom
Heedless or skin irritation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- heedlessCareless of consequences
- foolhardyRecklessly bold
wild · impetuous · brazen · audacious · devil-may-care · dangerous · risky · gamble
Earnest desperate requesting
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
- supplicatingAsking humbly, desperately
pleading · groveling · appealing · petitioning · praying · clutching · clinging
Intensely and sincerely felt
- intenseExtreme in degree
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- impassionedFilled with intense emotion
- vehementIntensely forceful in feeling
ardent · earnest · passionate · burning · consuming · obsessive · single-minded · relentless
frantic
Wildly anxious or desperate
- urgentNeeding immediate attention
- pressingRequiring immediate attention
- criticalExpressing disapproval or importance
last-ditch · time-sensitive · eleventh-hour · do-or-die · emergency · crisis · dire · immediate · crunch-time · all-or-nothing
dire
Extremely serious or urgent
- plightDifficult, dangerous situation
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- perilSerious threat of harm
jeopardy · straits · hardship · adversity · distress · trouble · destitute · impoverished · starving · stranded
hopeless
Beyond possibility of success
- futilityLack of purpose
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- bleakDreary and without cheer
desolation · resignation · defeat · despondent · forlorn · dejected · discouraged · dismal · gloom · wretched
rash
Heedless or skin irritation
- recklessCarelessly ignoring danger
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
- heedlessCareless of consequences
foolhardy · wild · impetuous · brazen · audacious · devil-may-care · dangerous · risky · gamble · drastic
begging
Earnest desperate requesting
- imploringUrgently requesting with emotion
- beseechingUrgently pleading for something
- entreatingUrgently asking for favor
supplicating · pleading · groveling · appealing · petitioning · praying · clutching · clinging
fervent
Intensely and sincerely felt
- intenseExtreme in degree
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- impassionedFilled with intense emotion
vehement · ardent · earnest · passionate · burning · consuming · obsessive · single-minded · relentless · driven
- moodshappy, sad, angry, anxious, excited
- dramatic tonesintense, tense, suspenseful, ominous, foreboding
- Irish Slangcraic, eejit, gobshite, banjaxed, slagging
- unfortunatesvictims, unfortunate, wretch, poor soul, lost soul
- turn-offsick, red flag, red flags, dealbreaker, dealbreakers
- povertypoverty line, poor, poverty rate, impoverished, generational poverty
desperatehopeful
Feeling positive expectation
optimistic · confident · secure · serene · unworried
desperatecalm
Free from agitation
composed · patient · collected · unflappable · cool-headed
desperatecomfortable
Physically at ease
secure · safe · well-off · prosperous · stable
desperately, desperation, desperado, desperateness, desperados