hopeless

adjective

hope·​less ˈhō-pləs 

1

a

: having no expectation of good or success : despairing

felt hopeless and alone

b

: not susceptible to remedy or cure

doctors say his condition is hopeless

c

: incapable of redemption or improvement

She's a hopeless romantic.

the most hopeless group of golfers you've ever seen

2

a

: giving no reason to expect good or success : giving no ground for hope : desperate

The situation looked hopeless.

b

: incapable of solution, management, or accomplishment : impossible

a hopeless task

hopelessness noun

Synonyms

• incorrigible
• incurable
• irrecoverable
• irredeemable
• irreformable
• irremediable
• irretrievable
• unrecoverable
• unredeemable

Choose the Right Synonym for hopeless

despondent, despairing, desperate, hopeless mean having lost all or nearly all hope.

despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Examples of hopeless in a Sentence

He felt confused and hopeless after losing his job.

We were the most hopeless group of golfers you ever saw.

He's very ill, but his condition isn't hopeless.

Recent Examples on the Web

The album has the trademark blue-collar vibe of many other Springsteen albums, but this was also full of bleak and hopeless themes, accompanied by a sparse instruments. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024

In 2017, the app launched Bumble Biz to give hopeless romantics the chance to find both their future partner and employer in one place. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024

Of all the hopeless romantics Stephen Sondheim set to song, Mrs. Lovett is by far the most deranged yet somehow the most endearing. —Washington Post Staff, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024

If past is precedent, the country is not entirely hopeless. —Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 7 Feb. 2024

Palliative psychiatry offers a compassionate and appropriate approach for people who may feel hopeless. —Anand Kumar, STAT, 27 Feb. 2024

However, the property manager's refusal to accept the funds made Hasan feel hopeless. —Tamia Fowlkes, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2024

If things are feeling really hopeless, consider reaching out to a crisis hotline. —Julia Ries, SELF, 28 Feb. 2024

Sometimes aiming too high can make your people feel more hopeless and unmotivated, especially when there's a lack of clarity regarding the road map. —Andrew Deutscher, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

hopeless

adjective

hope·​less ˈhō-pləs 

1

a

: having no expectation of good or success

b

: incurable

2

a

: giving no reason for hope : desperate

a hopeless situation

b

: incapable of solution or accomplishment : impossible

a hopeless task

hopelessly adverb

hopelessness noun