desperate
gb/dˈɛspɚɪt/ us/dˈɛspɚɪt/
B1
Anglais
~ 3000
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B1
state
1
Feeling or showing urgent need
Feeling a very strong need for something because the situation is very bad.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is desperate for [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'desperate' with 'hopeless'. 'Desperate' means having a strong need or desire, while 'hopeless' means having no chance of success.
Synonymes
urgent (Focuses more on the time-sensitive nature of the need rather than emotional intensity.)
|
needy (Implies lacking something essential, but can also suggest dependency.)
Antonymes
content (Implies satisfaction and no pressing need.)
Collocations
desperate for help
|desperate for money
|desperate for attention
|desperate situation
Thèmes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She was desperate for someone to listen to her story.
- After three days without water, they were desperate for a drink.
- He grew desperate as he searched for his lost child.
- The team was desperate to win the final game.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I am desperate for a job.
- He is desperate for food.
- She is desperate to see her friend.
- They are desperate for help.
adjective
B2
property
2
Involving extreme effort or risk
Done with great effort or risk because the situation is very bad.
Schéma d’usage :
a desperate attempt to [do something]
Synonymes
bold (Implies courage and willingness to take risks but not necessarily due to urgency.)
|
reckless (Implies taking risks without careful thought, sometimes overlapping with 'desperate' actions.)
Antonymes
cautious (Implies careful avoidance of risk.)
Collocations
desperate attempt
|desperate measures
|desperate struggle
Thèmes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- In a desperate attempt to save the company, they sold all their assets.
- He made a desperate dash for the exit when the fire alarm went off.
- They took desperate measures to protect their home from flooding.
Exemples pédagogiques
- We made a desperate attempt to win.
- She took desperate steps to find her dog.
- He made a desperate run to catch the bus.
adjective
B2
state
3
Having little or no hope
Having almost no chance of success or change for the better.
Schéma d’usage :
a desperate situation
Synonymes
hopeless (Completely without hope; often interchangeable in this sense.)
Antonymes
hopeful (Feeling or showing expectation that things will improve.)
Collocations
desperate situation
|desperate times
Thèmes
emotions
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The refugees were in a desperate situation after losing their homes.
- She faced a desperate battle against the illness.
- It was a desperate time for the community after the earthquake.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It is a desperate situation.
- They are in a desperate time.
- She feels desperate about the future.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
desperate
API
GB/dˈɛspɚɪt/
US/dˈɛspɚɪt/
Syllabes et accentuation
des - per - ate (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (des)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: desperate
Famille de mots
Core family
desperately
adverb B1
desperation
noun B2
Related words
despair
noun/verb B2
Expressions
desperate times call for desperate measures
1/dˈɛspɚɪt tˈaɪmz kˈɔl fɚ dˈɛspɚɪt mˈɛʒɚz/
idiom
Extreme actions in urgent situations
When things are very bad, you must do things you would not normally do.
Exemples
- I normally wouldn’t spend so much, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
- We had to break the rules—desperate times call for desperate measures.
in desperate need of
1/ˈɪn dˈɛspɚɪt nˈid əv/
fixed phrase
Strong urgent requirement
Needing something very much and very quickly.
Exemples
- The shelter is in desperate need of volunteers.
- She is in desperate need of medical attention.