as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the fans' hopelessness was dispelled as their team mounted a comeback
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hopelessness
Advertisement For decades, the dominant story about Watts was one of pathology and hopelessness.
—
Terry McDonell, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
The other featured a comeback that saw hopelessness turn into jubilation.
—Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Depression and hopelessness are at their highest ever measured.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
And with that came a feeling of complete hopelessness.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Terry McDonell, Time, 21 Apr. 2026
The other featured a comeback that saw hopelessness turn into jubilation.
—Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Depression and hopelessness are at their highest ever measured.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
And with that came a feeling of complete hopelessness.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopelessness
Noun
-
In desperation, Layla calls her estranged sister Shams (Abeer Mohammed), living in territory governed by the other side.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
17 May 2026
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On her third match point, Svitolina dug a ball out of the corner, chased one down near the service line, then charged the net and blocked the final ball past Gauff with a desperation stab.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Condal also saw what was happening and felt despair.—
Kate Aurthur,
Variety,
20 May 2026
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Farmers in despair Without insurance, Kongphan, an immigrant from Thailand, has been trying to obtain government aid and figure out how to level earth moved by the floodwaters.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
The prospect filled me with surprising sadness.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The bittersweet tale infused with humor and sadness chimed with the Cannes audience.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopelessness. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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