desperately in need

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "desperately in need" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone requires something urgently or is facing an urgent, dire need. For example, "The family was desperately in need of food and clothes after the hurricane destroyed their home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

­Qualities that Warrington are desperately in need of.

The Guardian - Sport

Syria is desperately in need of a bridge into globalization.

The New York Times

"I'm desperately in need of getting organized," he says.

The New York Times

He is still desperately in need of a volume control.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The peace process is desperately in need of recalibration.

The Guardian - Opinion

Iran is desperately in need of a sustainable political consensus.

The Guardian

These are the places desperately in need of economic renewal.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Are we really saying we can't help these people who are so desperately in need?

The Guardian

Don't even go near one, unless you suddenly find yourself desperately in need of some Polos.

The Guardian

They are desperately in need of financial assistance and public recognition".

Independent

But he climbed back up in 1996, when he was desperately in need of Communist votes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "desperately in need", ensure the context clearly establishes what is lacking and why it's crucial. For example, specify if someone is "desperately in need of medical attention" or "desperately in need of financial support".

Common error

While "desperately in need" effectively conveys urgency, avoid overuse in highly formal or business documents. Consider alternatives such as "urgently requires" or "critically needs" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desperately in need" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It intensifies the need, indicating a situation of great urgency and necessity. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and conveys a clear sense of requirement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "desperately in need" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to emphasize an urgent or critical requirement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys a sense of urgency. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it's also used in academic and formal settings. When writing, ensure the context clarifies the specific need and consider stronger alternatives like "urgently requires" or "critically requires" for certain formal contexts. Overuse should be avoided, and clarity in specifying the lacking element is key to impactful communication. The phrase is primarily used to highlight critical deficiencies and prompt action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

In dire need of

Highlights the severity and urgency of the need, creating a sense of crisis.

Urgently needs assistance

This alternative specifically calls for help, emphasizing the need for support or aid.

Critically requires

Emphasizes the severity and importance of the need, highlighting that there can be serious consequences for not fulfilling the need.

Gravely requires

Highlights the serious and potentially dangerous nature of the need.

Pressingly requires

Emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of the need, implying that action must be taken quickly.

Urgently requires

Focuses on immediate action and necessity. It shifts from a state of needing to an an action of requiring something.

Extremely requires

Focuses on the high extent of requiring something.

Sorely needs

Indicates that the absence of something is causing pain or difficulty, and emphasizes the negative consequences of not fulfilling the need.

Badly needs

A simpler and more direct way of expressing a strong need. It is less formal than "desperately in need".

Intensely needs

Implies a strong and deeply felt need. Shifts the focus to the intensity of the need itself.

FAQs

How can I use "desperately in need" in a sentence?

Use "desperately in need" to emphasize an urgent or critical requirement. For example, "The refugees were "desperately in need" of shelter and food", or "The hospital is "desperately in need" of more nurses."

What are some alternatives to "desperately in need"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "urgently requires", "critically requires", or "in dire need of" to express a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "desperately in need" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "desperately in need" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider stronger, more professional alternatives like "urgently requires" or "critically requires".

What's the difference between "badly needs" and "desperately in need"?

"Badly needs" indicates a strong need, while "desperately in need" emphasizes a greater sense of urgency and severity. "Desperately" implies a dire situation where failure to meet the need could have serious consequences, while "badly" is a more general term for something that is very much wanted or required.