Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a desperate manner; recklessly; without fear or restraint.
  • Excessively; violently; unrestrainedly.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly; extremely.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety; recklessly.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in intense despair
  • adverb with great urgency

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

desperate +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • But she clung to the title desperately when she knew that it would be taken from her.

    Heroes of Modern Europe Alice Birkhead

  • "These are the people that are finally driving gaming into the mainstream, by forcing it to be accessible again, even as the shrinking group of embattled nerds who would lay claim to the term desperately try to anchor it in the elitist ghetto."

    Mersey Remakes 2009

  • What we need desperately is routine and inexpensive access to LEO.

    Buzz Aldrin's Advice to Norm Augustine - NASA Watch 2009

  • But in desperately failing schools, where most kids lack basic skills, the only way to bushwhack a path out of the darkness is with a good, solid measuring stick.

    What Makes a Great Teacher? 2010

  • But in desperately failing schools, where most kids lack basic skills, the only way to bushwhack a path out of the darkness is with a good, solid measuring stick.

    What Makes a Great Teacher? 2010

  • They are motivated by the desire to see more and better jobs in desperately poor places, so they assume that their opponents are motivated by the desire to hoard those jobs here.

    Matthew Yglesias » The Limits of “No” 2009

  • Believe me, McCain desperately wants to run against Hillary Clinton.

    Sources: Clinton, Obama supporters discussing exit strategies 2008

  • Meanwile, whilst Hain desperately struggles to defend his incompetence, Guido has more to reveal concerning Hain's activities:

    Archive 2008-01-01 2008

  • Railway workers aboard the train desperately tried to douse the smoke, but their efforts failed, and the box caught fire.

    Did You Know? The Hero of Nacozari 2007

  • Railway workers aboard the train desperately tried to douse the smoke, but their efforts failed, and the box caught fire.

    Did You Know? The Hero of Nacozari 2007

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