as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
the hapless motorist had barely paid his bill and driven away from the body shop when a truck sideswiped his car
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hapless
The feds then demanded more and Armstrong is now gone, with hapless Columbia on its fourth president in less than two years.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
With that impetus gone, women’s standards for romantic partners have skyrocketed, leaving these hapless men unable to get a girlfriend.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 14 Apr. 2025
This particular assignment was to illustrate an essay by P.G. Wodehouse, the British author and humorist who created Jeeves, the consummate butler to the hapless Bertie Wooster.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Are these victims really just hapless fools with no idea they’re being duped into caring for alien eggs and hatchlings?
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hapless
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
With that impetus gone, women’s standards for romantic partners have skyrocketed, leaving these hapless men unable to get a girlfriend.
—Constance Grady, Vox, 14 Apr. 2025
This particular assignment was to illustrate an essay by P.G. Wodehouse, the British author and humorist who created Jeeves, the consummate butler to the hapless Bertie Wooster.
—Penelope Green, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Are these victims really just hapless fools with no idea they’re being duped into caring for alien eggs and hatchlings?
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hapless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hapless
Adjective
-
None of his previous work has been released in the U.S., which is unfortunate because Demoustier (brother of the talented actress Anaïs) is one of those rare French filmmakers who can blend suspense with perceptive writing and characterization, resulting in artsy thrillers that dig deep.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2025
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The decision was so unfortunate that the NAIA felt compelled to issue an apology.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
Their presidential candidate, Erika Meza, a 25-year veteran teacher from the Southeast Side, is unhappy with what CTU has come to symbolize.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2025
-
However, the Palestinians are unhappy with the speed of FIFA’s inquiries.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hapless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hapless. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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