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
If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.
—
Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 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
Additional data shows that the lack of in person connection is quickly becoming a relationship crisis, with 78% of Bumble users sharing that anxiety and stress to present themselves as perfect lead to hopelessness in finding someone, which in turn has lessened the rates of offline relationships.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Another 2022 study from Rutgers University, focused on COVID-19 news, found that greater daily exposure to news about the virus was linked to higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic as well as feelings of hopelessness and general worry.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s a big conversation going on in the UK about the need for positivity in climate fiction, for example—paths of light to direct people away from hopelessness and pessimism.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Other red flags can include trouble functioning during the day, withdrawal from social life or activities, meaningful mood changes, or mentions of hopelessness or self-harm.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Jan. 2026
Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 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
Additional data shows that the lack of in person connection is quickly becoming a relationship crisis, with 78% of Bumble users sharing that anxiety and stress to present themselves as perfect lead to hopelessness in finding someone, which in turn has lessened the rates of offline relationships.
—Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Another 2022 study from Rutgers University, focused on COVID-19 news, found that greater daily exposure to news about the virus was linked to higher same-day and next-day worry about the pandemic as well as feelings of hopelessness and general worry.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s a big conversation going on in the UK about the need for positivity in climate fiction, for example—paths of light to direct people away from hopelessness and pessimism.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Other red flags can include trouble functioning during the day, withdrawal from social life or activities, meaningful mood changes, or mentions of hopelessness or self-harm.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopelessness
Noun
-
Pantemis got away, perhaps mercifully, with a yellow card after a hard foul on Reggie Cannon out of desperation outside the box in the 73rd minute.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Carmona’s story in West Dallas is one of perseverance, creativity and, at times, desperation.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If only for a moment, the despair and dread of war had been interrupted by hope.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Helplessness can beget despair.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Her wedge of baked Alaska slouched on the plate like a children’s book illustration meant to convey sadness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
-
In my experience, sadness and melancholy exist side by side with happiness and joy.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopelessness. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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