Englishfor English speakers
desperate
Adjective
—
A desperate action is one that is dangerous or likely to fail, but one that you take because you have no choice.
During the fire, some people tried to break through a wall in a desperate attempt to survive.
Doctors are running out of time in their desperate search for a cure.
They took desperate measures to survive, including killing and eating their dog.
—
A desperate situation is a very bad one.
Trucks have not been able to reach the village for weeks, and the food situation appears desperate.
They are in desperate need of help.
—
If someone is desperate, they have a very strong want or need for something.
We're desperate for money to help these people.
poor
Adjective
—
Someone who is poor has little or no money.
He is very poor.
—
Something that is poor is bad quality.
The painting was a poor job.
—
You use poor before someone's name or a pronoun when you feel bad for that person.
Tom is all alone. Poor Tom!
Oh, poor you! I can't believe that happened.
—
The poor are a group of people who have little or no money.
This work is to help the poor.