reckless or dangerous because of despair or urgency

a desperate killer.

having an urgent need, desire, etc.

desperate for attention.

leaving little or no hope; very serious or dangerous

a desperate illness.

extremely bad; intolerable or shocking

clothes in desperate taste.

extreme or excessive.

making a final, ultimate effort; giving all

a desperate attempt to save a life.

actuated by a feeling of hopelessness.

having no hope; giving in to despair.

Obsolete . a desperado.

adjective

confident , content , satisfied , secure , unworried , calm , contented , satisfactory , hopeful

adjective

atrocious , audacious , bold , careless , dangerous , daring , death-defying , determined , devil-may-care , foolhardy , frantic , frenzied , furious , hasty , hazardous , headlong , headstrong , heinous , impetuous , incautious , madcap , monstrous , precipitate , rash , risky , scandalous , shocking , venturesome , violent , wild , acute , climacteric , concentrated , critical , crucial , dire , drastic , exquisite , fierce , great , terrible , urgent , vehement , very grave , vicious , at end of one’s rope , back to the wall , can’t win , dead duck , despairing , despondent , desponding , downcast , forlorn , futile , gone * , goner , hard up * , inconsolable , in the soup , in the toilet , irrecoverable , irremediable , irretrievable , no-chance , no-way , no-win , running out of time , sad , sunk , up against it , up the creek , useless , vain , wretched , hopeless , extreme , incurable , lost , outrageous , reckless , remediless