desperately

adverb

des·​per·​ate·​ly ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē How to pronounce desperately (audio)
-spərt-
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.
These updates were desperately needed, Pearson said, because of a rise in after-dark solicitors. Vivien Ayers, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024 At the most basic level, some disabled people may simply be looking forward, perhaps desperately because living disabled is expensive, to promised lower prices and a generally more optimistic economic climate — no matter what, no matter how or by whom. Andrew Pulrang, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024 That’s because that’s not a thing anywhere except for in a script that desperately needs to retrofit Vince Vaughn into the North Pole. Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024 The Nuggets desperately needed to see Braun take a step forward this season and, so far, that has come to fruition. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near desperately

Cite this Entry

“Desperately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperately. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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