What is your personal definition of the word, "desperate"?

Question

I think "desperate" & "desperation" are highly subjective terms, as different individuals will likely have different answers, when applying those terms to dating, romance, and sex.

I personally would define desperate as:
Abandoning one's morals, standards, and values to settle for less or to achieve a quick-fix.

Some examples of what I personally would describe as desperation: having an affair / soliciting a prostitute / having a one night stand / booty calls / patronizing strip clubs / rape / date-rape / taking advantage of someone who is intoxicated / continuing with someone who is abusive to you mentally, or physically / etc.

There is an overwhelming misconception in society, of what desperation is, in my opinion. Contemporary society says "looking" for someone, or desiring someone is wrong. If you are "looking" you are automatically labeled as being "desperate." All you hear are cliches, "It will happen when you least expect it," or "It will happen when you stop looking."

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines desperate as:

1 a : having lost hope b : giving no ground for hope
2 a : moved by despair b : involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration
3 : suffering extreme need or anxiety
4 : involving extreme danger or possible disaster
5 : of extreme intensity
6 : SHOCKING, OUTRAGEOUS

http://m-w.com/dictionary/desperate

Answer 1

I am. Seriously.

But, I get your point about the stupid cliches. I am tired of my girls saying "love yourself first" or "let him come to you" or "He'll show up as soon as you stop looking". That's all well and good, but when it's late at night, or you're having a bum day, or you want to cuddle and you have NO ONE you feel the burn of the single life. And you actually have a physical/emotional want... it's tough. (Can you tell I hate being single?)

Answer 2

Tonight I'm Loving You- Enrique Iglesias Give Me Everything Tonight- Pitbull FT. NeYo Hollywood Tonight- Michael Jackson

Answer 3

That's one way of putting it. But when it comes to the world of dating, desperate is more like a form of hunger. You don't need to abandon all your ethics to be desperate for love. Looking and desire are one thing, but when you are looking at a person or pestering constantly in the hopes they'll go out with you to the point of making others feel uncomfortable, that's desperation.

Answer 4

The new engraving for the dictionary for "desperation" is going to feature the Bush Regime trying to Swiftboat John Kerry again in a last-ditch attempt to influence the elections next week.

Answer 5

I would descripe desperate as what the dictionary says given up hope, but it also depends on what kind of hope you are giving up and what kind of desperate that you are. It could be your job or lack of, it could be your personal life. But in any case you should never give up-keep the faith and hang in there.

Answer 6

Desperate means trying to find anyone just to find someone instead of trying to find the right one. To take something less, not because it's enough, just because it's something.

Answer 7

Desperation is a state of mind - not a physical reality.

Answer 8

One who sacrifices thier self esteem in order to please someone else.
I dont think that just because someone is looking for someone means they are desperate. One only seems so when they try to be someone/something else in order to start a relationship.

Answer 9

to me it means settling for less which can sometimes be pitiful

Answer 10

To desire something at any cost....any....and which sadly shows....