| without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success | showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort |
| (informal to emphasize how bad it is) beyond hope of management or reform | fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless |
| certain to fail | arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope |
| of a person unable to do something skillfully | showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire |
| | desperately determined |
| | (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair |