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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 Evans’ film sounds hopeless but isn’t and doesn’t abandon Danny, even if his hope is barely a flicker and never a flame. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025 The record falls more within the hopeless category than the romantic one. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2025 Needless to say, that sounds like a good fit for the rather hopeless Battlestar Galactica universe. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025 The case highlights both the dangers of industrial accidents and the advances in trauma surgery that can offer patients a chance at survival in seemingly hopeless circumstances. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • Recent reports about his illness had suggested the cancer was incurable, but manageable.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 10 Sep. 2025
  • However, the statute doesn’t address incurable violations, such as, for example, unsafe driving, raucous disturbances, or misuse of common facilities.
    Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • And there is often an expectation of escapism in romance that precludes dealing realistically with money — or, for big media blockbusters, a cynical assumption that audiences won't enjoy a romcom which also takes the logistics of life seriously.
    Chelsea Fagan, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Poggi deemed that an impossible request.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Farmers are facing impossible choices.
    Phil Lempert, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Both teams are desperate to avoid an 0-2 start, and Johnson’s return adds another layer of intrigue to a sneaky-big early season matchup.
    Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Muncy had played only a handful of games since early June, Edman had been out since early August, and Vesia returned to a bullpen in desperate need of a boost after a series of recent letdowns.
    Chad Jennings, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Exhausted and despairing, many Palestinians had their own reasons for refusing to pack up and uproot themselves again.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • This one is trickier and sadder to think about.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Composite image created by Newsweek shows two older people looking worried and a piggy bank with a sad face on its side.
    Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Losing confidence in landing a job Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their prospects of getting a new job.
    Matt Egan, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Initial assumptions reacting to the April surge in volatility in the financial markets were broadly pessimistic.
    George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • My research team works hard to keep the email addresses up to date, but executives keep changing their addresses to avoid having to deal with unhappy customers.
    Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But few seemed to leave unhappy.
    Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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