desperate

/ˈdɛspərət/

extremely urgent

She made a desperate attempt to catch the bus.

She tried very hard, almost hopelessly, to catch the bus.

informal

Feeling of hopelessness; lacking hope.

After losing his job, he felt desperate.

He felt without hope after his job loss.

Often used to describe emotional states after a setback.

formal

Urgent; requiring immediate action.

The patient was in desperate need of medical attention.

The patient required immediate medical care.

Common in medical, safety, or crisis contexts.

Collocations

desperate measuresextreme actions taken when other options have faileddesperate needa very urgent requirementdesperate attempta last‑ditch effort made with little chance of success

English Dictionary