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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Desperate Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：desperate for (desperate)

desperate 🔊

/ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

adj.

Wanting or needing something very much, to the point where you feel you can't wait.

desperate for 🔊

➕

/ˈdɛsp(ə)rət fɔːr/

adj.

Feeling an intense need for something that you believe you cannot wait any longer; craving urgently.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'desperatus' (de- 'away' + sperare 'to hope'), meaning 'without hope'.

💡 Mnemonic

De (away) + Sper (hope) -> hope gone. Desperate = urgent need from no hope.

📖 Example

After a 10-hour shift, I'm desperate for a good rest and a hot shower. 🔊 After working ten hours straight, I urgently need a rest and a hot shower.

🔗 Collocations

desperate for change – having an urgent need for a different situation

desperate need – an extremely urgent requirement

desperate plea – a request made with great urgency and emotion

🔄 Synonyms

eager (adj.) – feeling a strong desire for something to happen

yearning (adj.) – experiencing a deep and persistent longing

urgent (adj.) – requiring immediate action or attention

🚫 Antonyms

indifferent (adj.) – not caring about something, lacking interest

satisfied (adj.) – having enough of what is needed, no urgent desire

🌱 Derivatives

desperation (n.) – the state of being desperate, especially hopelessness

desperately (adv.) – in a way that shows great urgency or hopelessness

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'desperare' (to despair). In English since 15th century, used in literature to describe extreme urgency or loss of hope, e.g., in Shakespeare's works.

Meaning 2：hopeless (desperate)

desperate 🔊

/ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

adj.

Feeling or showing you have no hope and are ready to do anything, even risky things, to change the situation.

hopeless 🔊

➕

/ˈhoʊpləs/

adj.

Having no hope; ready to take any risk to change a bad situation because you feel you have nothing to lose.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After months of searching without luck, he made a desperate attempt to find his lost dog by posting flyers all over the city. 🔊 After failing to find his dog for months, he tried a very risky method by posting flyers everywhere.

🔗 Collocations

desperate attempt – a last effort made with little chance of success but great risk

desperate measures – extreme actions taken when no other options remain

desperate situation – a condition so bad that one feels ready to do anything

🔄 Synonyms

hopeless (adj.) – without any expectation of a positive outcome

frantic (adj.) – wildly excited or anxious, often leading to rash actions

reckless (adj.) – showing a lack of care about danger or consequences

🚫 Antonyms

hopeful (adj.) – feeling or inspiring optimism about the future

calm (adj.) – not anxious or agitated; composed

cautious (adj.) – careful to avoid risks or danger

🌱 Derivatives

desperation (n.) – the state of being desperate, especially hopelessness leading to extreme actions

desperately (adv.) – in a way that shows extreme hopelessness or urgency