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desperation

n.
US //ˌdɛspɝˈeɪʃən// UK //dˌɛspəɹˈeɪʃən// des·per·a·tion
  1. 1 hopelessness (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of having no hope and feeling that a situation is impossible to fix.

    a psychological state of utter hopelessness or despair; the condition of being desperate.

    Example

    He looked around the empty room in total desperation, not knowing where to go next.

    Example

    The refugees lived in a state of constant desperation, unsure if the next shipment of medical supplies would arrive before the winter set in.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'in' to describe a person's state.
  2. 2 reckless action (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a feeling of being so worried or upset that you do something dangerous or extreme.

    a state of extreme urgency or anxiety that drives one to take reckless or unconventional risks.

    Example

    In a moment of desperation, she sold her car to pay for her rent.

    Example

    The company's decision to merge with its largest rival was seen by many analysts as a final act of desperation to avoid total bankruptcy.

    Usage

    Often appears in the phrase 'an act of desperation'.
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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