Desperate vs. Desparate — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 19, 2024
The correct spelling is "Desperate," and the incorrect spelling is "Desparate." "Desperate" refers to a state of despair or urgency.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Desperate or Desparate
How to spell Desperate?
Desperate
Correct Spelling
Desparate
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
Visualize the word 'esper,' which means hope, found in the middle of 'desperate.'
The word has "esper" in the middle, like "Esperanto," which is spelled with an 'e,' not an 'a.'
Recall the phrase "desperate times call for desperate measures," all spelled with 'e's.
"Desperate" rhymes with "separate," and both have an 'e' in the same position.
How Do You Spell Desparate Correctly?
Incorrect: He made a desparate attempt to save the relationship.
Correct: He made a desperate attempt to save the relationship.
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Incorrect: Their search for the missing dog was becoming desparate.
Correct: Their search for the missing dog was becoming desperate.
Incorrect: Desparate times call for desparate measures.
Correct: Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Incorrect: The situation was looking desparate.
Correct: The situation was looking desperate.
Incorrect: She felt very desparate after losing her job.
Correct: She felt very desperate after losing her job.
Desperate Definitions
Desperate refers to feeling or showing extreme despair.
He was desperate for help.
Desperate may signify extreme urgency or need.
There's a desperate need for action.
Desperate can mean recklessly determined.
She made a desperate attempt to win.
Desperate can indicate severity or hopelessness of a situation.
The business was in a desperate situation.
Desperate can denote taking extreme risks out of despair.
They made a desperate escape from the prison.
Feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with
A desperate sadness enveloped Ruth
(of a person) having a great need or desire for something
Other women are desperate to get back to work
I am desperate for a cigarette
Having lost all hope; despairing.
Marked by, arising from, or showing despair
The desperate look of hunger.
A desperate cry for help.
Reckless or violent because of despair
A desperate criminal.
Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort
A desperate attempt to save the family business.
Nearly hopeless; critical
A desperate illness.
A desperate situation.
Suffering or driven by great need or distress
Desperate for recognition.
Extremely intense
Felt a desperate urge to tell the truth.
In dire need (of something); having a dire need or desire.
I hadn't eaten in two days and was desperate for food.
Desperate to eat; desperate for attention
Being filled with, or in a state of, despair; hopeless.
I was so desperate at one point, I even went to see a loan shark.
Beyond hope, leaving little reason for hope; causing despair; extremely perilous.
A desperate disease;
Desperate fortune
Involving or employing extreme measures, without regard to danger or safety; reckless due to hopelessness.
He dove into the rushing waters in a desperate effort to save her life.
Extremely bad; outrageous, shocking; intolerable.
Intense; extremely intense.
A person in desperate circumstances or who is at the point of desperation, such as a down-and-outer, addict, etc.
Without hope; given to despair; hopeless.
I am desperate of obtaining her.
Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable; past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate disease; desperate fortune.
Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort.
Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; - used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality.
A desperate offendress against nature.
The most desperate of reprobates.
One desperate or hopeless.
A person who is frightened and in need of help;
They prey on the hopes of the 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--as if at the end of his tether
Her desperate screams
Desperately determined;
Do-or-die revolutionaries
A do-or-die conflict
(of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair;
A desperate criminal
Taken hostage of desperate men
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
They took heroic measures to save his life
Showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire;
Felt a desperate urge to confess
A desperate need for recognition
Fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless;
A desperate illness
On all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel
A dire emergency
Desperate Meaning in a Sentence
The drought left the farmers in a desperate situation, needing rain to save their crops.
The team made a desperate attempt to score in the final seconds of the game.
Feeling desperate, she reached out to her friends for help.
In a desperate bid for freedom, the bird flapped its wings against the cage.
The character in the movie made a desperate plea for help.
The climbers were desperate for warmth as the temperature dropped.
Desperate for company, the elderly man welcomed anyone who visited.
Desperate for attention, the puppy barked and jumped continuously.
The lost hiker made a desperate call for help on his phone.
Desperate for change, the community rallied together to clean up the park.
After days of being lost, the hikers' rescue was a desperate relief.
The magician made a desperate gesture, and suddenly, the bird vanished.
Desperate for a breakthrough, the scientist worked late into the night.
Faced with a desperate shortage of supplies, the team had to ration their food.
In a desperate move, the company slashed prices to attract more customers.
The students were desperate to finish their project before the deadline.
In a desperate search for truth, the detective overlooked no clue.
The athlete's desperate leap won her the gold medal.
Desperate to prove himself, the young artist spent every moment perfecting his craft.
Feeling desperate, she scrolled through her contacts, looking for someone to talk to.
The team's desperate strategy in the final game paid off with a win.
Desperate to see the view, tourists climbed the steep hill breathlessly.
The parents were desperate to find a cure for their child's illness.
In a desperate tone, he explained the urgency of the situation.
The refugee's desperate journey for a new home touched the hearts of many.
Desperate Idioms & Phrases
Desperate hope
A slim chance that is clung to in tough times.
With desperate hope, the family awaited any news of their missing dog.
A desperate cry for help
A plea made in a situation of dire need.
The letter to the charity was a desperate cry for help from the village.
A desperate bid
An attempt made with little chance of success.
His run for office was seen as a desperate bid by many.
Desperate measures
Actions taken out of urgency, often without consideration for the consequences.
The company took desperate measures to avoid bankruptcy.
In desperate need
Lacking something crucially important.
The shelter was in desperate need of blankets and food for the winter.
A desperate plea
A very serious request for help.
The letter to the governor was a desperate plea for clemency.
Desperate times call for desperate measures
Extreme situations require extreme actions.
They resorted to selling their prized possessions, as desperate times call for desperate measures.
Desperate courage
Bravery shown in the face of likely defeat.
The soldiers showed desperate courage as they defended the fort.
A desperate straw
A last, often hopeless, attempt to solve a problem.
Applying for the job was a desperate straw, but she had nothing to lose.
Desperate measures for desperate times
Taking unusual actions due to an extreme situation.
Implementing the strict rules was seen as desperate measures for desperate times.
Desperate for attention
Seeking notice or acknowledgement at any cost.
The young star was desperate for attention, appearing at every event.
Desperate search
Looking for something with urgency and intensity.
The parents conducted a desperate search for the lost toy to calm their crying child.
A desperate move
An action taken out of desperation, often risky.
Moving to a new city with no job lined up was a desperate move.
A desperate situation
A circumstance with very little hope or options.
Trapped in the cabin, they were in a desperate situation as food ran low.
A desperate attempt
Trying something with little hope of success.
The swimmer made a desperate attempt to reach the shore.
Desperate situation, desperate actions
In a bad situation, extreme actions are taken.
The drought led the farmers to take desperate situation, desperate actions by using untested irrigation methods.
Desperate longing
A very strong desire or craving.
He felt a desperate longing to return to his homeland.
Desperate fight
A struggle undertaken with little hope of victory.
The community's desperate fight against the development saved the park.
Desperate resolve
A firm decision made in a difficult situation.
With desperate resolve, she decided to face her fears.
Common Curiosities
What is the root word of Desperate?
The root word is Latin "desperare," meaning "to have no hope."
Which vowel is used before Desperate?
"A," as in "a desperate attempt."
Which conjunction is used with Desperate?
"And," as in "desperate and hopeless."
What is the pronunciation of Desperate?
/ˈdɛs.pər.ɪt/
Is Desperate an abstract noun?
No, it's an adjective.
What is the singular form of Desperate?
Desperate.
Why is it called Desperate?
It is called "Desperate" because it conveys a state of hopelessness or urgency.
Which preposition is used with Desperate?
"For," as in "desperate for help."
Which article is used with Desperate?
"A" or "the."
Is Desperate a noun or adjective?
It is an adjective.
What is the verb form of Desperate?
There's no direct verb form, but the related verb could be "to despair."
Is Desperate a negative or positive word?
Generally negative.
Is the word Desperate a gerund?
No.
What is the opposite of Desperate?
Hopeful, calm.
Which determiner is used with Desperate?
"A" or "the."
What is the plural form of Desperate?
Desperate doesn't have a plural form; it's an adjective.
Is Desperate an adverb?
No.
Is Desperate a countable noun?
It's not a noun.
How many syllables are in Desperate?
Three syllables.
What is a stressed syllable in Desperate?
The first syllable, "Des."
Is the Desperate term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically.
Is the word “Desperate” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
Neither, it's an adjective.
How do we divide Desperate into syllables?
Des-pe-rate
What part of speech is Desperate?
Adjective.
How is Desperate used in a sentence?
"He made a desperate plea for help."
Is Desperate a vowel or consonant?
It's a word, not a vowel or consonant.
Is Desperate a collective noun?
No.
Is the word Desperate imperative?
No.
What is another term for Desperate?
Hopeless, frantic.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
