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adj. 1. Having lost all hope; despairing. 2. Marked by, arising from, or showing despair: the desperate look of hunger; a desperate cry for help. 3. Reckless or violent because of despair: a desperate criminal. 4. Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort: a desperate attempt to save the family business. 5. Nearly hopeless; critical: a desperate illness; a desperate situation. 6. Suffering or driven by great need or distress: desperate for recognition. 7. Extremely intense: felt a desperate urge to tell the truth. [Middle English desperat, from Latin dēspērātus, past participle of dēspērāre, to despair; see DESPAIR.] desper·ate·ly adv. desper·ate·ness n. |
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