desperation

/ˌdespəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌdespəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

desperation — 名詞

1. the strong feeling of having no hope, which makes you willing to try anything, e

1.名詞B2
釋義

絕望；走投無路

身處絕境願冒險的感覺

the strong feeling of having no hope, which makes you willing to try anything, even dangerous or unreasonable things, to escape a terrible situation

例句

As the flood waters rose, the trapped family climbed onto the roof in desperation.

隨著洪水上漲，受困的一家人出於絕望爬上了屋頂。

in desperation — common prepositional phrase

In a moment of desperation, Chen sold his grandfather's watch to pay for a bus ticket home.

在走投無路之際，Chen 賣掉了祖父的手錶來湊回家的車錢。

a moment of desperation — noun phrase showing single event

同義詞
  • hopelessness

    stronger focus on the belief that nothing will improve; less emphasis on taking action

  • despair

    more about complete loss of hope without the urge to act; more passive and sorrowful

  • anguish

    focuses on severe mental or physical suffering rather than the urge to escape a situation

反義詞
  • hope

    the confident belief that things will get better

  • optimism

    a tendency to expect good outcomes, the opposite of desperate thinking

用法筆記

Often used in the fixed phrases 'in desperation' (explaining the reason for an action) and 'an act of desperation' (describing the action itself). Frequently collocates with verbs like 'feel', 'drive', 'grow into'.

常見錯誤

❌In his despair, he jumped from the window.' (when the person acted quickly to escape danger)
✅In his desperation, he jumped from the window.
💡'despair' is passive sadness; 'desperation' includes the willingness to act.

2. an extremely strong need or desire for something, so powerful that it takes over

2.名詞B2
釋義

迫切需求

極度需要某事物的強烈感受

an extremely strong need or desire for something, so powerful that it takes over your thinking and makes you act without care

例句

The desperation in Amara's voice was obvious as she begged the nurse for more pain medicine.

Amara 的聲音裡充滿了迫切，她哀求護士給她更多的止痛藥。

desperation in [someone's] voice — collocation for audible need

Young athletes sometimes feel a desperation to win that damages their bodies and friendships.

年輕運動員有時會感到一股求勝的迫切，這會損害他們的身體和人際關係。

desperation + to-infinitive expressing desired goal

同義詞
  • urgency

    less emotional, more about time pressure than intense feeling

  • need

    much weaker and more general; not specific to extreme desire

  • craving

    more physical or addictive; often used for food, drink, or substances

反義詞
  • satisfaction

    the state of having what you need

  • contentment

    a calm feeling of having enough, the opposite of urgent wanting

文法句型

desperation + for + noun phrase

desperation + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person, group, or organisation that needs something essential. Common in the patterns 'desperation for [noun]' and 'desperation to [verb]'. Unlike sense 1, this sense does not imply a terrible situation — only a very strong want or need.

常見錯誤

❌I had a desperation for a cup of coffee.' (trivial need)
✅The stranded hikers felt a desperation for clean drinking water.
💡'desperation' is too strong for everyday wants; reserve it for urgent, serious needs.