desperation
/ˌdɛspəˈɹeɪʃən/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: desperations
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.
Noun
Examples
in desperation
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope.
Noun
Examples
The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “desperation” mean?
The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.
Is “desperation” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.