1
as in incurable
not capable of being cured or reformed
a hopeless optimist who looked for the good in everyone and everything was a hopeless romantic who never stopped looking for a soul mate
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cynical
emphasizing or expecting the worst
the poor woman was feeling hopeless about ever finding her lost cat
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3
as in impossible
incapable of being solved or accomplished
keeping this desk organized is hopeless
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4
as in desperate
feeling or showing no hope
the hopeless look on the faces of the fans as the other team scored again
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hopeless
Even when things seem hopeless, there is always hope. . .
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The news especially saddens Charlie Brown, who feels hopeless about losing a place that has meant so much to him and his friends.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
Despite lying in 17th, and being fortunate that the bottom three clubs have been completely hopeless, Tottenham have a positive goal difference of +4.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Those nurses never stopped fighting for Mattie, even as her situation seemed hopeless.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The news especially saddens Charlie Brown, who feels hopeless about losing a place that has meant so much to him and his friends.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025
Despite lying in 17th, and being fortunate that the bottom three clubs have been completely hopeless, Tottenham have a positive goal difference of +4.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Those nurses never stopped fighting for Mattie, even as her situation seemed hopeless.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
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Steve Carell plays Randall Garrett, the group’s Peter Thiel-esque mentor who, not unlike the late Steve Jobs, has cancer that his doctor tells him is incurable.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
-
The spread of an incurable disease and a spate of grove-destroying hurricanes have forced juice companies to rely heavily on oranges imported from Brazil and Mexico.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The British showrunner of that blisteringly cynical drama spent five years and 39 episodes giving us a portrait of filthy rich people pulling strings and behaving badly.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
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But the message at the heart of Isle of Dogs, that saving others is the only way to save one’s self, is enough to turn the most cynical viewer into a believer—and maybe even a dog lover.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Stay Real’ to heart and were inspired to chase their seemingly impossible dreams.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
2 June 2025
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Coco Jones stands tall among them, blending vocal power, vulnerability, and a bold sense of self that is impossible to ignore.—
Essence,
Essence,
2 June 2025
Adjective
-
In this story, the baby was in desperate need of nourishment, so the mother ran between two hills seven times to try to procure water for the baby.—
Monica Haider,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
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Racing is in desperate need of stars and the chase for the Triple Crown is one way of getting them.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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These lines represent Elisabeth at her most despairing.—
Elizabeth Djinis,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Banks: There’s a reason why the theater [symbol] is a happy face/sad face.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
-
To some, this may sound bizarre, laughable, or even just plain sad.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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CEOs’ responses were pessimistic about many business factors.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Still, some scholars remain pessimistic about the odds of deciphering khipus with any certainty.—
Sam Kean,
The Atlantic,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Additionally, the more fiscally conservative Senate is increasingly unhappy with the cost of the bill, which is estimated to add $3.1 trillion to the deficit over the next decade.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Four of its main characters are in unhappy marriages and cheating on their spouses, which is sometimes awkwardly played for laughs.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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