Search Result for "desperate": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. a person who is frightened and in need of help;
- Example: "they prey on the hopes of the desperate"


ADJECTIVE (6)

1. arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope;
- Example: "a despairing view of the world situation"
- Example: "the last despairing plea of the condemned criminal"
- Example: "a desperate cry for help"
- Example: "helpless and desperate--as if at the end of his tether"
- Example: "her desperate screams"
[syn: despairing, desperate]

2. desperately determined;
- Example: "do-or-die revolutionaries"
- Example: "a do-or-die conflict"
[syn: desperate, do-or-die(a)]

3. (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair;
- Example: "a desperate criminal"
- Example: "taken hostage of desperate men"

4. showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort;
- Example: "made a last desperate attempt to reach the climber"
- Example: "the desperate gallantry of our naval task forces marked the turning point in the Pacific war"- G.C.Marshall
- Example: "they took heroic measures to save his life"
[syn: desperate, heroic]

5. showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire;
- Example: "felt a desperate urge to confess"
- Example: "a desperate need for recognition"

6. fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless;
- Example: "a desperate illness"
- Example: "on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall
- Example: "a dire emergency"
[syn: desperate, dire]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Desperate \Des"per*ate\, n.
   One desperate or hopeless. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Desperate \Des"per*ate\, a. [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare.
   See Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
   1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [Obs.]
      [1913 Webster]

            I am desperate of obtaining her.      --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous;
      irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely
      dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard
      to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate
      effort. "Desperate expedients." --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the
      extreme predominance of a bad quality.
      [1913 Webster]

            A desperate offendress against nature. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

            The most desperate of reprobates.     --Macaulay.

   Syn: Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong;
        precipitate; irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad;
        furious; frantic.
        [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

desperate
    adj 1: arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope; "a
           despairing view of the world situation"; "the last
           despairing plea of the condemned criminal"; "a desperate
           cry for help"; "helpless and desperate--as if at the end
           of his tether"; "her desperate screams" [syn:
           despairing, desperate]
    2: desperately determined; "do-or-die revolutionaries"; "a do-
       or-die conflict" [syn: desperate, do-or-die(a)]
    3: (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency
       or despair; "a desperate criminal"; "taken hostage of
       desperate men"
    4: showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously
       undertaken in desperation as a last resort; "made a last
       desperate attempt to reach the climber"; "the desperate
       gallantry of our naval task forces marked the turning point
       in the Pacific war"- G.C.Marshall; "they took heroic measures
       to save his life" [syn: desperate, heroic]
    5: showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of
       great need or desire; "felt a desperate urge to confess"; "a
       desperate need for recognition"
    6: fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless; "a desperate
       illness"; "on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate
       situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall; "a dire
       emergency" [syn: desperate, dire]
    n 1: a person who is frightened and in need of help; "they prey
         on the hopes of the desperate"