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โ‡ฑ DESPERATELY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster


desperately

adverb

desยทโ€‹perยทโ€‹ateยทโ€‹ly หˆde-sp(ษ™-)rษ™t-lฤ“ ๐Ÿ‘ How to pronounce desperately (audio)
-spษ™rt-
1
: in a way that involves despair, extreme measures, or rashness : in a desperate manner
struggling desperately
desperately crying out
2
: extremely, terribly
desperately tired
desperately important

Examples of desperately in a Sentence

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anthropic tried desperately to contain the fallout after exposing the source code. โ€”๐Ÿ‘ Image
Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
But Dodge desperately needs a proper high-volume SUV; that aging midsize canโ€™t carry the brand on its (admittedly beefy) shoulders forever. โ€”๐Ÿ‘ Image
Byron Hurd, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026
The plucky kid who seemingly had a fast-track job and a beyond-dreams wife is now desperately snorting it all away. โ€”๐Ÿ‘ Image
Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
The Warriors desperately need an infusion of Curry to remind everyone what the mission is. โ€”๐Ÿ‘ Image
Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperately

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desperately was circa 1547

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Cite this Entry

โ€œDesperately.โ€ Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperately. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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