desperate

desperate — 形容詞

1. used to describe a situation that is extremely dangerous or likely to cause grea

1.形容詞B2
釋義

危急的

形容情況極度嚴重或危險

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.

例句

The city faced a desperate shortage of clean water after the flood swept through.

洪水過後，這座城市面臨嚴重的乾淨水源短缺。

collocation: desperate shortage of

Eshe described the conditions at the refugee camp as desperate and getting worse each day.

Eshe 形容難民營的條件十分危急，而且一天比一天糟。

collocation: desperate conditions

同義詞
  • dire

    equally strong but slightly more formal; used mainly for situations or predictions

  • grave

    more formal; focuses on the seriousness rather than active danger

  • critical

    focuses on urgency; often used in medical or technical contexts

反義詞
  • safe

    free from danger or risk

  • secure

    protected from harm or loss

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

❌The weather was desperate yesterday.
✅The weather was terrible yesterday.
💡'desperate' describes a serious, harmful situation, not simply something unpleasant.
❌I had a desperate headache.
✅I had a terrible headache.
💡'desperate' is too extreme for common aches and pains.

2. much stronger, more urgent, or more intense than what is normal — used to descri

2.形容詞B2
釋義

極度的

形容感受或行動的強度達到極限

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.

例句

Arjun made a desperate attempt to reach the airport before his flight left.

Arjun 拚了命地試圖在飛機起飛前趕到機場。

collocation: desperate attempt

Renata felt a desperate urgency to finish her research before the funding ran out.

Renata 感到極度急迫，必須在經費用完之前完成研究。

同義詞
  • extreme

    broader and less emotional; neutral in tone

  • intense

    focuses on the strength of a feeling rather than urgency

  • urgent

    highlights the need for immediate action

反義詞
  • 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

❌I have a desperate headache.
✅I have a splitting headache.
💡'desperate' cannot describe physical pain or common discomfort.

3. wanting or needing something so strongly that your desire fills your thoughts an

3.形容詞B2
釋義

極度渴望的

極度需要或想要某事物

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.

例句

After three days lost in the mountains, the hikers were desperate for food.

在山裡迷路三天後，那些登山者極度需要食物。

pattern: desperate for + noun (the thing badly needed)

Mizuki was desperate to find a job before her savings ran out completely.

Mizuki 迫切希望能在她積蓄完全花光之前找到一份工作。

pattern: desperate to + infinitive (the action urgently wanted)

同義詞
  • starving

    only for food; informal and colloquial

  • dying

    informal; 'dying for' or 'dying to' for strong but casual desires

  • craving

    used for specific foods or experiences; less intense than 'desperate'

反義詞

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

❌I am desperate of seeing that movie.
✅I am desperate to see that movie.
💡'desperate' takes 'to + infinitive', not 'of + gerund'.
❌I'm desperate for a cup of coffee' (said casually).
✅I could really use a cup of coffee.
💡Using 'desperate' for trivial wants sounds unnatural and overly dramatic in most everyday situations.

4. feeling that there is no way your situation will improve, and therefore willing

4.形容詞B2
釋義

絕望的

因絕望而願意採取極端手段

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.

例句

Desperate to save his family's farm, Henrik borrowed money at a very high interest rate.

Henrik 為了挽救家裡的農場而絕望地以極高的利率借錢。

pattern: desperate to + infinitive (+ risky action taken)

With no savings left, Yuki made a desperate gamble on an untested business idea.

Yuki 積蓄花光了，於是把最後的錢孤注一擲押在一個從未嘗試過的創業點子上。

collocation: desperate gamble

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞

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

❌I'm desperate to get a new phone, so I saved up some money.
✅I'm desperate to get a new phone because my old one broke and I need it for work.
💡Without a serious reason or high stakes, the word sounds exaggerated.
❌He was desperate of escaping the war.
✅He was desperate to escape the war.
💡'desperate' takes 'to + infinitive', not 'of + noun/gerund'.

5. willing to use violence or take dangerous risks, especially because you feel you

5.形容詞C1
釋義

不顧性命的

因無路可走而不惜使用暴力

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.

例句

Police warned the public that the escaped prisoner is desperate and could be armed.

警方警告民眾，那名越獄囚犯不顧後果，可能持有武器。

register: police/public warning

The cornered animal grew desperate and began to attack anyone who came near it.

那隻被逼到角落的動物變得兇暴起來，開始攻擊任何靠近牠的人。

同義詞
  • reckless

    focuses on carelessness about danger rather than active violence

  • dangerous

    broader; does not imply the person is acting out of hopelessness

反義詞
  • peaceful

    not violent or aggressive

  • calm

    not showing strong negative emotions

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.

常見錯誤

❌My boss was desperate when I was late for the meeting.
✅My boss was angry when I was late for the meeting.
💡This sense requires a serious risk of violence or harm, not just annoyance.