desperate

(s) arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
- a despairing view of the world situation
- the last despairing plea of the condemned criminal
- a desperate cry for help
- helpless and desperate--as if at the end of his tether
- her desperate screams
despairing,
(s) desperately determined
- do-or-die revolutionaries
- a do-or-die conflict
do-or-die,
(s) (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair
- a desperate criminal
- taken hostage of desperate men
(s) showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort
- made a last desperate attempt to reach the climber
- "the desperate gallantry of our naval task forces marked the turning point in the Pacific war"- G.C.Marshall
- they took heroic measures to save his life
heroic,
(s) showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire
- felt a desperate urge to confess
- a desperate need for recognition
(s) fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
- "a desperate illness
- on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall
- a dire emergency
dire,

(n) a person who is frightened and in need of help
- they prey on the hopes of the desperate

despairing do-or-die heroic dire

desperado

desperate criminal desperately desperate measure desperate straits