desperate
desperate — adjective
1. used to describe a situation that is extremely dangerous or likely to cause grea
used to describe a situation that is extremely dangerous or likely to cause great harm — for example, when people do not have enough food, water, or medicine, or when a disaster is about to happen.
The city faced a desperate shortage of clean water after the flood swept through.
collocation: desperate shortage of
Eshe described the conditions at the refugee camp as desperate and getting worse each day.
collocation: desperate conditions
With no rain for months, farmers across the region were in a desperate situation.
The hospital issued a desperate plea for medical supplies after the earthquake.
A desperate need for housing has forced many families to live in temporary shelters.
文法句型
desperate + noun
用法筆記
Commonly paired with nouns like 'shortage', 'need', 'situation', 'conditions', and 'plea'. This sense usually appears in news reports about crises — it describes the dangerous state of the situation itself, not a person's feelings.
常見錯誤
2. much stronger, more urgent, or more intense than what is normal — used to descri
much stronger, more urgent, or more intense than what is normal — used to describe feelings, needs, or actions that are at the highest possible level.
Arjun made a desperate attempt to reach the airport before his flight left.
collocation: desperate attempt
Renata felt a desperate urgency to finish her research before the funding ran out.
The rescue team worked with desperate speed to pull survivors from the rubble.
Tuan looked around with a desperate expression, searching for any sign of his lost daughter.
Putri made a desperate effort to stay awake during the long night drive.
- mild
low in intensity or strength
文法句型
desperate + noun (of effort, need, urgency)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes the situation as dangerous; sense 2 describes the intensity of a feeling, need, or action. For example, 'a desperate shortage' (sense 1) means a dangerously low supply, while 'a desperate attempt' (sense 2) means a very determined try.
常見錯誤
3. wanting or needing something so strongly that your desire fills your thoughts an
wanting or needing something so strongly that your desire fills your thoughts and you cannot think about anything else — for example, feeling desperate for food after days without eating, or desperate for a friend when you are lonely.
After three days lost in the mountains, the hikers were desperate for food.
pattern: desperate for + noun (the thing badly needed)
Mizuki was desperate to find a job before her savings ran out completely.
pattern: desperate to + infinitive (the action urgently wanted)
The little dog looked at its owner with desperate eyes, hoping for some bread.
Cyrus felt desperate for someone to talk to after months alone in a new city.
The company is desperate for new engineers who can help update its old computer systems.
- indifferent
not caring one way or another
文法句型
desperate for + noun
desperate to + infinitive
用法筆記
The two most common patterns are 'desperate for + noun' (stating what you need) and 'desperate to + infinitive' (stating what you want to do). Unlike sense 4, this sense does not necessarily imply hopelessness — it focuses on the strength of the need or desire. The word sounds dramatic in everyday speech, so use milder alternatives like 'really want' or 'would love' in casual conversation unless the need is genuine.
常見錯誤
4. feeling that there is no way your situation will improve, and therefore willing
feeling that there is no way your situation will improve, and therefore willing to do anything — no matter how extreme or risky — in order to change it.
Desperate to save his family's farm, Henrik borrowed money at a very high interest rate.
pattern: desperate to + infinitive (+ risky action taken)
With no savings left, Yuki made a desperate gamble on an untested business idea.
collocation: desperate gamble
Eve sold everything and moved to a new country, a desperate choice that shocked her friends.
The family climbed onto the roof in a desperate attempt to escape the fire.
After losing her home, Tamar took a desperate risk and slept in an abandoned building.
- hopeless
focuses on the lack of hope rather than the willingness to act
- despairing
more emotional; focuses on the feeling of loss and sadness
- frantic
focuses on panicked, wild behaviour rather than determined action
- hopeful
believing that things can get better
- optimistic
expecting a good outcome
文法句型
desperate to + infinitive (explaining extreme action)
desperate for + noun (what is needed to escape the situation)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (intense desire): sense 3 is about craving something specific, while this sense is about feeling trapped and willing to take extreme action. The action is often described right after 'desperate to + verb' or in a phrase like 'in a desperate attempt to...'. Common in both news reports and personal storytelling about life-changing decisions.
常見錯誤
5. willing to use violence or take dangerous risks, especially because you feel you
willing to use violence or take dangerous risks, especially because you feel you have nothing left to lose — used by police, news reporters, or authorities to warn the public about a person or animal.
Police warned the public that the escaped prisoner is desperate and could be armed.
register: police/public warning
The cornered animal grew desperate and began to attack anyone who came near it.
Authorities described the fugitive as armed and desperate, urging residents to stay inside their homes.
A desperate man held the store clerk at knifepoint, demanding money from the register.
文法句型
desperate + noun (person/criminal/animal)
用法筆記
This sense is the strongest and most extreme of all five. It appears almost exclusively in crime reports, security alerts, and warnings. 'Armed and desperate' is a fixed phrase commonly used by law enforcement. Unlike sense 4, which focuses on determined action, this sense emphasizes the potential danger to other people.