hopeful

¹hope·ful

adj \ˈhōp-fəl\

Definition of HOPEFUL

1

: having qualities which inspire hope <hopeful signs of economic recovery>

2

: full of hope : inclined to hope

— hope·ful·ness noun

Examples of HOPEFUL

1. The mood is sad rather than hopeful.
2. He was hopeful that things would get better soon.
3. I still feel hopeful about the future.
4. She is hopeful of winning the race.
5. a hopeful tone of voice
6. There are hopeful signs that the crisis may end soon.
7. The movie has a hopeful ending.
8. Investigators report that there have been some hopeful developments in the case.

First Known Use of HOPEFUL

1568

Related to HOPEFUL

Synonyms: auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, optimistic, promising, propitious, roseate, rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

Antonyms: bleak, dark, depressing, desperate, discouraging, disheartening, dismal, downbeat, dreary, gloomy, hopeless, inauspicious, pessimistic, unencouraging, unlikely, unpromising, unpropitious

Related Words: cheering, comforting, reassuring, soothing; assured, confident, decisive, doubtless, positive, sure, unhesitating; beamish, bullish, eupeptic; favorable, good

Near Antonyms: cheerless, comfortless; doubtful, dubious, uncertain; bearish, grim, negative, unfavorable; funereal, glum, gray (also grey), miserable, wretched

see all synonyms and antonyms

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