desperation
noun/ˌdɛspəˈɹeɪʃən/
Etymology 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.
1
The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.
- in desperation
- utter desperation
2
A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope.
- The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.1854 August 9, Henry D[avid] Thoreau, “Economy”, in Walden; or, Life in the Woods, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, →OCLC, page 10:
3
Reckless fury.
- "The PM’s private reassurances are worthless given her track record of u-turns and her clear desperation to cling to power."2017 June 11, “DUP leader hails 'good progress' with Theresa May”, in The Scotsman, archived from the original on 10 Jul 2025:
- Derived terms
- semidesperation