Determination is positive. It is a strong individual drive. It means you strive for something without being necessarilly pushed into it by external forces or factors. It is a matter of will. Desperation is negative. read more
The main difference between desperation and determination is their connotation. Determination has a positive connotation while desperation has a negative connotation. This is why they essentially mean the same thing, but are used in different ways to convey certain feelings. read more
Determination: "I want this, and I am going to take these measures to get it." Desperation: "I must have this, and I have to take these measures to get it." The difference is in how important the objective is to the person in question. As such, one can seem like the other to an outside observer. read more
desperation | determination | As nouns the difference between desperation and determination is that desperation is the act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope while determination is the act of determining, or the state of being determined. read more