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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective hopeless differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hopeless are despairing, desperate, and despondent. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

When is despairing a more appropriate choice than hopeless?

The meanings of despairing and hopeless largely overlap; however, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

In what contexts can desperate take the place of hopeless?

While the synonyms desperate and hopeless are close in meaning, 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

When can despondent be used instead of hopeless?

While in some cases nearly identical to hopeless, despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hopeless Amid the callous acts and hopeless rage of these kids—who are resourceful enough to orchestrate a high-speed heist but too disaffected for much else—a supernatural eeriness surfaces through word of mysterious lights in the sky and missing citizens. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2025 That might seem like a silly thing to insinuate — that a team would be in a seemingly hopeless situation with six innings to play in a tie game. Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025 Domínguez caught the ball and fired a hopeless throw toward third, allowing both runners to advance. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025 Ordinarily, none but the most hopeless of political junkies would care much about the selection, but there’s reason under these circumstances to pay attention. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • Jamie later explains to Anna that he has been diagnosed with a rare and incurable form of cancer — the same one that his brother, Eddie, died from.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • With Securities and Exchange Commission filings saying Ellison will become CEO after the merger, that would trigger an incurable provision in the current co-CEOs’ contracts.
    Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Yet this promising start devolved into a prime example of the sort of cynical assholery that today would be called a hot take, or even clickbait.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The second was even more cynical as it was designed to preserve the seats of all incumbents, not just Democrats, and succeeded in more than 99% of House elections.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather interestingly, instead of making off with the loot, the hackers sent the proceeds to addresses with no owners, effectively destroying the value and making recovery impossible, in order to emphasise the political, rather than financial, nature of the raid.
    David G.W. Birch, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The hedge is an acceptance that the world is impossible to know accurately.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • In one of his first major film roles, Anthony Mackie plays a newly unemployed executive who, desperate for money, agrees to impregnate his lesbian ex-girlfriend (Kerry Washington) and all her friends.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
  • Isak himself stressed his happiness in the spring and featured in club kit promotions, hardly the actions of someone desperate for a quick exit.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • Alcaraz swung slice serves past a despairing Lehečka’s forehand, while the Czech’s deliveries leapt up off the grass, contorting Alcaraz into uncomfortable return positions.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • How long is unknown, but with the season winding down and every game increasing in importance, any game off for Tucker is a sad statement on how far his stock has dropped in the last month.
    Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
  • But the film’s precise, funny characters and vivid, sweltering look would have meant nothing without Lee’s wise and ultimately sad vision of multicultural America as a place where good intentions and casual mistrust are as commonplace as the local pizzeria.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • There are plenty of reasons to be pessimistic about electric vehicle adoption here in the US.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The spat has driven out some Canadians living in the US and wrecked the economies of US-Canada border towns, and Canadians are more pessimistic about the economy than ever.
    Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • And a surprising amount of grace from staff who, although unhappy with the changes, felt respected.
    Taazima Kala, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The Heat, at the time, wanted to dump Lowry — who was unhappy about his diminished role — and believed Rozier would give Miami an offensive infusion.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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