as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the fans' hopelessness was dispelled as their team mounted a comeback
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Recent Examples of hopelessness
Today that sense of hopelessness has been replaced by a sense of determination and a good deal more hope.
—
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Bigelow’s explosively entertaining real-time thriller, told from multiple perspectives at various levels of government from situation room deputies to POTUS (Idris Elba) himself, does not mince on hopelessness.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
In the 2024 National College Health Assessment Report, 30% of the 30,000 students surveyed said anxiety negatively affected their academic performance, with 20% at risk for symptoms that suggest severe psychological distress, such as feelings of sadness, nervousness and hopelessness.
—Chanam Lee, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
The persistent violent crime across the city, particularly in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, has left many residents living in fear and hopelessness.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Forty percent of high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Many immigration advocates said there is despair and hopelessness about how ICE will eventually touch individuals’ lives.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
The hero is armed with one song bathed in countrified gospel and folk in his utility belt, aimed squarely at how despair and hopelessness have gripped many of the world's citizens.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 May 2025
Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Bigelow’s explosively entertaining real-time thriller, told from multiple perspectives at various levels of government from situation room deputies to POTUS (Idris Elba) himself, does not mince on hopelessness.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
In the 2024 National College Health Assessment Report, 30% of the 30,000 students surveyed said anxiety negatively affected their academic performance, with 20% at risk for symptoms that suggest severe psychological distress, such as feelings of sadness, nervousness and hopelessness.
—Chanam Lee, The Conversation, 2 Sep. 2025
The persistent violent crime across the city, particularly in our most vulnerable neighborhoods, has left many residents living in fear and hopelessness.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
Forty percent of high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
—Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Many immigration advocates said there is despair and hopelessness about how ICE will eventually touch individuals’ lives.
—Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
The hero is armed with one song bathed in countrified gospel and folk in his utility belt, aimed squarely at how despair and hopelessness have gripped many of the world's citizens.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopelessness
Noun
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Daniels also threw a desperation pick while simply trying to get rid of the ball, but the game’s outcome was decided by then.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Tatum does stretch his acting abilities in scenes where Jeffrey’s con-man charisma is underlaid with desperation and deception, but there’s nothing in Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn’s screenplay to seriously challenge Tatum’s persona as a leading man.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As France awaits its next prime minister, Bacharan says many people are in despair over the uncertainty this has brought on the country.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
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Mauricio says his wife didn’t give in to that despair and felt reassured by having a work permit.—
Gustavo Valdés,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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These movies commit to the dusty interior decoration and inherent sadness of their ghost stories, but have little feel for the profound interfamily dynamics therein.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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So many of Lee’s memories of her mother are tinged with sadness and grief.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hopelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopelessness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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