Synonyms for desperation
ˌdɛs pəˈreɪ ʃəndes·per·a·tion

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. desperation

   Discouragement is the result of so much repulse or failure as wears out courage. Discouragements too frequent and long continued may produce a settled hopelessness. Hopelessness is negative, and may result from simple apathy; despondency and despair are more emphatic and decided. Despondency is an incapacity for the present exercise of hope; despair is the utter abandonment of hope. Despondency relaxes energy and effort and is always attended with sadness or distress; despair may produce a stony calmness, or it may lead to desperation. Desperation is energized despair, vigorous in action, reckless of consequences.

   Synonyms:
   despair, despondency, discouragement, hopelessness

   Antonyms:
   anticipation, assurance, cheer, confidence, courage, elation, encouragement, expectancy, expectation, hope, hopefulness, trust

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. despair, desperationnoun

   a state in which all hope is lost or absent

   "in the depths of despair"; "they were rescued from despair at the last minute"; "courage born of desperation"

   Synonyms:
   despair

2. desperationnoun

   desperate recklessness

   "it was a policy of desperation"

   Synonyms:
   despair

Matched Categories

1. • Condition
   • Recklessness

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. desperationnoun

   Synonyms:
   despair, hopelessness

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:3.5 / 2 votes

1. desperationnoun

   Synonyms:
   despair, hopelessness, recklessness

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "desperation":

   despair, hopelessness, distress, despondency

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How to use desperation in a sentence?

1. Keith Krach:

   For Russia, this partnership is born of desperation, he [Putin] is looking for help wherever he can find it and Xi Jinping is all too willing to prey on Putin’s desperation.

2. Anthony Burgess:

   We all need money, but there are degrees of desperation.

3. Benjamin Disraeli:

   Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.

4. Jose Saturnino Cardozo:

   It was a very tight match, we knew it would be like that given that your opponents often play on your desperation (since) a 0-0 draw gave them the possibility of playing the final. We lacked creativity to generate chances and put them away.

5. Henry David Thoreau:

   The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.