desperate

If a person is desperate, he or she has a strong need for something. A situation requires immediate attention. The word "desperate" is an adjective:

• Jonah can’t find a good apartment. He’s becoming desperate.
• Renee is desperate to find a new job. She lost her job six months ago, and now she’s desperately trying to find employment. (The word "desperately" is an adverb.)
• A desperate man walked into the bank and stole some money. He was quickly caught afterwards.
• People in the village have a desperate need for clean water. They desperately need it.

An "ion" ending creates the noun form for this word:

• Desperation filled the air as a small kitchen fire quickly spread out of control.
• Renee’s desperation to find a new job is evident to all who know her.
• A sense of desperation suddenly took hold among the passengers in the sinking ship.

a sinking ship

Click here to go to the Word of the Day page.

First published on October 17, 2012