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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 Goodbye… you book lover, hopeless romantic, and prolific serial killer. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025 Winners of four straight heading into Tuesday's action, and six of its last nine, Atlanta remained tied for last place in the National League East, but went from a seemingly hopeless 3-10 record on April 11 to more competitive 9-13 as of Tuesday. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 From the opening whistle, Agyemang ran at defenders, chased down hopeless balls, and battered San Diego’s back line into submission. Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 20 Apr. 2025 Burke was hopeless against speedy Oregon wide receivers last October, but bounced back against the same group in the Rose Bowl. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • In 1952, she was diagnosed with an illness doctors said was incurable.
    Sonari Glinton, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
  • Two years ago, Emma Dimery was told her stage 4 colon cancer was incurable.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Is this a cynical attempt to rescue their party from a political free fall?
    John Opdycke, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 May 2025
  • And so Lee’s reinterpretation strains to leave us on a high instead of a low, as befits the finale of an update so compellingly eager to flip the script on one of Kurosawa’s most cynical films.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • The balancing act is a startling visual and seems almost impossible to achieve in real life.
    James Russell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2025
  • The teardown and communications teams at iFixit were largely expecting Apple to release another tiny product that was impossible to fix or have its batteries swapped, filling the gaps in landfills alongside AirPods.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • But this doesn’t mean that the Angelika is desperate, Carter said.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 13 May 2025
  • The defense clamped down, holding the Maple Leafs to just 12 shots on goal through the first two periods before Toronto got desperate in the third and started getting more pucks on net in the final 20 minutes.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • The film necessarily presents a despairing view of America as its 20th-century glory days recede into the distance, but Schrader isn’t one to shirk away from some form of hope for his isolated priest.
    Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
  • These lines represent Elisabeth at her most despairing.
    Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
  • For someone who prizes roadside Americana, this is the visual version of the sad trombone sound.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • While downgrades are nothing new, Moody’s cited six factors — an unusually large number, with all of them related in one way or the other to Trump policies — for its pessimistic forecast.
    Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Consumers have the most pessimistic outlook since October 2011, according to the Conference Board, driven by fears surrounding tariffs, inflation and the possibility of a recession.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 15 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

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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