1feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with:a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth
(of an act) tried in despair or when everything else has failed:drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life
(of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous:there is a desperate shortage of teachers
(of a person) violent or dangerous:a desperate criminal
Irish informal very bad:that beer’s desperate—it’s a wonder you’ve the nerve to offer it for sale
2 [predic.] (of a person) having a great need or desire for something:I am desperate for a cigarette [with infinitive]:other women are desperate to get back to work
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies
proverb extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation:she resorted to even more desperate remedies
