desperation JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ˌdɛspəˈɹeɪʃən/ · des·per·a·tion
noun
  1. The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope. In the face of the flood, the villagers' desperation was evident as they abandoned their homes.
  2. A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope. She felt a deep desperation after losing her job and her health insurance.
  3. Reckless fury. His desperation drove him to a reckless fury, smashing the windows in a fit of rage.
Did you know? Stephen King's 1996 novel "Desperation" popularized the word in modern horror literature, and it was later adapted into a feature film.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026