1. (

• desperate

) a person who is frightened and in need of help; "they prey on the hopes of the desperate" ;

1. (

• despairing ,
• desperate

) arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope; "a despairing view of the world situation"; "the last despairing plea of the condemned criminal"; "a desperate cry for help"; "helpless and desperate;

2. (

• desperate ,
• do-or-die

) desperately determined; "do-or-die revolutionaries"; "a do-or-die conflict" ;

3. (

• desperate ,

) (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair; "a desperate criminal"; "taken hostage of desperate men" ;

4. (

• desperate ,
• heroic

) showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort; "made a last desperate attempt to reach the climber"; "the desperate gallantry of our naval task forces marked the turning point in the Pacific war"- G.C.Marshall; "they took heroic measures to save his life" ;

5. (

• desperate

) showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire; "felt a desperate urge to confess"; "a desperate need for recognition" ;

6. (

• desperate ,
• dire

) fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless; "a desperate illness"; "on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall; "a dire emergency" ;