in despair because beyond or almost beyond hope
reckless because of despair
undertaken as a last resort
desperate remedies
(often + for) suffering extreme need or anxiety
fraught with extreme danger or impending disaster
a desperate situation
violent or dangerous
desperate criminals
informal said of the weather, etc: very bad; severe
desperateness noun
[Latin desperatus, past part. of desperare, from de- + sperare to hope]