Final answer:
The synonym for 'desperate' in the context of trying to squirm free from the ropes is 'struggle', as it reflects the urgency and forceful effort to escape or survive a challenging situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the given sentence 'desperate to squirm free from the ropes', the synonym for 'desperate' is struggle. Each synonym must be able to maintain the context of the original word. Among the options provided, 'struggle' is the only word that implies an intense effort to break free, which aligns with the meaning of 'desperate' in context. Other options such as 'relax', 'surrender', and 'ignore' convey the opposite or unrelated meanings to the sense of urgency and intense effort implied in 'desperate'.
For example, in literature and narratives, characters often find themselves in dire situations where they must fight hard or navigate desperate ground. Whether facing the brutality of captivity or struggling against the overwhelming forces of nature, the term 'desperate' carries the weight of an extreme situation that requires immediate and forceful action to escape or survive.