desperado

[ des-puh-rah-doh, -rey- ]

noun

, plural des·per·a·does, des·per·a·dos.

1. a bold, reckless criminal or outlaw, especially in the early days of the American West.

desperado

/ ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdəʊ /

noun

1. a reckless or desperate person, esp one ready to commit any violent illegal act

Word History and Origins

Origin of desperado¹

1600–10; probably pseudo-Spanish alteration of desperate (as noun, now obsolete), in same sense

Word History and Origins

Origin of desperado¹

C17: probably pseudo-Spanish variant of obsolete desperate (n) a reckless character

Example Sentences

Instead of lawn or little potted palms around the pool, there are oversize stands of desperado sage, a fragrant hybrid between white sage and purple sage, growing so untamed they’re nearly spilling into the pool.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is our buddy, Lizzy,” Augusztiny said with a smile as he and his wife, Lise Ransdell, greeted an enormous lizard that crawled out from under a large Salvia ‘Desperado’ plant.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead of lawn or little potted palms around the pool, there are oversize stands of desperado sage, a fragrant hybrid between white sage and purple sage, growing so untamed they’re nearly spilling into the pool.

From Los Angeles Times

“This is our buddy, Lizzy,” Augusztiny said with a smile as he and his wife, Lise Ransdell, greeted an enormous lizard who crawled out from under a large salvia ‘Desperado’ plant.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, some of Lee’s favorite color combinations can be found — orange and burgundy Volcano Fireworks, purple and lime green Mystic Port and yellow and purple El Desperado.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• hoodlum
• ruffian