desperately needed

USAGE SUMMARY

"desperately needed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the urgency of needing something. For example, "The government is desperately needed to fund the recovery process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Pontiac desperately needed them.

The New York Times

It is desperately needed.

The Economist

It's desperately needed here.

Harvard University

Some synonyms are desperately needed.

The Economist

That's desperately needed right now".

The New York Times

An author is desperately needed.

The Economist

Reform is desperately needed.

The Guardian

Change is desperately needed.

The Guardian - Opinion

We desperately needed it".

The New York Times - Sports

The money is desperately needed.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

We desperately need hope.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "desperately needed" to emphasize the extreme urgency or critical nature of a requirement. It's stronger than "needed" and conveys a high degree of importance.

Common error

While "desperately needed" is effective for emphasizing urgency, overusing it can dilute its impact. Reserve it for situations where the need is truly critical; otherwise, opt for a less emphatic phrase like "needed" or "required".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "desperately needed" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It indicates that something is not just needed, but required with a sense of urgency and critical importance. As Ludwig AI indicates, it emphasizes the urgency of needing something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "desperately needed" effectively conveys a sense of urgency and critical necessity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and appropriate for emphasizing a requirement's importance. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Formal & Business contexts, indicating a broad applicability. While highly effective, it's best used sparingly to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "urgently required" and "critically necessary" can provide variety. The phrase’s strong communicative purpose is reflected in its frequent use by authoritative sources to highlight dire situations and advocate for immediate action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

urgently required

Emphasizes the time-sensitive nature of the need.

critically necessary

Highlights the essential and vital nature of the requirement.

badly needed

A more informal way to express a strong need.

sorely missed

Focuses on the negative impact of the absence of something.

vitally important

Stresses the significance and importance of something.

essential

Highlights the fundamental nature of the need.

imperative

Conveys a sense of command and urgency.

of the essence

Emphasizes the critical timing and importance.

indispensable

Indicates that something is absolutely necessary and cannot be done without.

highly desirable

Indicates a strong preference and benefit from acquiring something.

FAQs

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

You can use "desperately needed" to describe something that is urgently required. For instance, "The government is "desperately needed" to fund the recovery process".

What are some alternatives to saying "desperately needed"?

Alternatives include "urgently required", "critically necessary", or "badly needed", depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is there a difference between "needed" and "desperately needed"?

"Needed" indicates a requirement, while "desperately needed" emphasizes the urgency and critical nature of that requirement. The latter conveys a stronger sense of importance and the potential negative consequences of not fulfilling the need.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "desperately needed"?

Use "desperately needed" when the situation is critical, time-sensitive, and failure to meet the need would have significant negative consequences. This phrase is effective for conveying urgency and importance.