desperately

[ des-per-it-lee, -prit- ]

adverb

1. in a reckless or dangerous way because of hopelessness or urgency:

   In the movie, he’s the object of an intense police manhunt and scrambles desperately around Belfast trying to escape.

2. in a way that shows urgent need or desire:

   He is highly motivated to put his all into everything he does, trying desperately to prove himself.

3. to a very serious or dangerous degree that leaves little hope:

   People without medical insurance may often suffer without care until they are desperately ill.

4. extremely or excessively:

   My weekend will be desperately dull, as I've been on vacation all week and have to catch up with work.

Other Words From

• qua·si-des·per·ate·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of desperately¹

desperate ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup was a significant achievement for Wales, but at the tournament in Qatar they were desperately disappointing as they were knocked out in the first round.

From BBC

"The earth's atmosphere contains an abundance of untapped fresh water, but we desperately need materials that can efficiently capture and collect this humidity and condense it into potable water," said Naumov.

From Science Daily

Plus, they say, schools and hospitals desperately need more money.

From BBC

He kept escalating his incendiary comments while the Harris campaign focused on desperately trying to highlight how extreme, divisive and mendacious he was.

From Salon

While she was desperately trying to find her missing son in January 2018, she told the court, the “calm and earnest-sounding” Woodward lied to her that Bernstein had been fine when he last saw him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• badly
• dangerously
• fiercely
• greatly
• perilously
• seriously