desperation

Desperation is when someone feels they have no other option but to try whatever might work. It's like being stuck between two bad choices and deciding which one is slightly less terrible.

When people talk about desperation, they often use it to describe a situation where someone has tried everything else and now they're willing to take a big risk or do something unusual. For example, imagine you've been looking for a job for months and all your friends have given up on helping you find one. If you then decide to quit your part-time job to focus on finding the perfect full-time job, people might say you're acting out of desperation because you feel like you have no other choice.

In general, desperation is a strong feeling that can make people do things they wouldn't normally do. It's not always a good thing – sometimes it can lead to impulsive decisions that aren't in our best interest – but in the moment, it might seem like the only way forward.