くる
苦
　
し
まぎ
紛
　
れ

noun, adjectival noun or quasi-adjective, takes genitive case の

Oft. as 〜に.
  1. (out of) desperation, (as a) last resort, (driven by) pain.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
くる
苦
　
し
まぎ
紛
　
れ
 苦し紛れ くるしまぎれ
くる
苦
　
し
　
ま
　
ぎ
　
れ
 苦しまぎれ くるしまぎれ

Contained Kanji Breakdown

suffering, trial, worry
ク　くる.しい　にが.い (3rd, N3)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
old
コ　ふる.い　ふゆ (2nd, N4)
ten
ジュウ　ジッ　ジュッ (1st, N5)
mouth
くち　コウ　ク (1st, N4)
distract, be mistaken for, go astray
まぎ.れる　フン (Late Jr. High, N1)
thread
いと　シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
part, minute of time, segment
ブン　わ.ける　ブ (2nd)
sword, saber, knife
かたな　トウ　ち (2nd, N1)