Synonyms for desperation
Most common
All synonyms
Noun
1. Despair — A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope
despair, hopelessness, despondency, despond dated
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
A state of despair, or utter hopelessness; abandonment of hope.
Related words
- Phrases
- bladder desperation
Forms
- Plural
- desperations → despairs, hopelessnesses, despondencies, recklessnesses…
Choose the right word
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.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- despair Tom was in absolute despair when his dog ran away.
- hopelessness It is with hopelessness that true optimism begins.
- recklessness As soon as she came in, his recklessness vanished.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| desperation | rising | |
| despair | rising | |
| hopelessness | rising | |
| despondency | steady | |
| recklessness | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- despair2, despond
- 11 letters
- despondency4
- 12 letters
- hopelessness3, recklessness3
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (despair2 = 2 syllables).