ENGLISH
REFERENCE

desperation

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌdɛspɝˈeɪʃən// UK //dˌɛspəɹˈeɪʃən// des·per·a·tion

n. a strong feeling of needing help or support because you have no other options. You feel desperate when a situation is urgent and difficult.

n. the state of being extremely anxious or hopeless due to a lack of resources or options.


SIMPLE

She accepted the job out of desperation.

CONTEXTUAL

In desperation, he called his old friend for a loan.

COMPLEX

The refugees crossed the border in desperation, leaving behind everything they owned to seek safety.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English desperacion, desperacioun, desperation, disparacion, disperacion, disperacioun, dispiracioune, dysperacioun, from Middle French desperation and its etymon Latin dēspērātiō, dēspērātiōnis. By surface analysis, desperate + -ion.

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