hopelessness

noun

Definition of hopelessnessnext
as in desperation
utter loss of hope the fans' hopelessness was dispelled as their team mounted a comeback

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 hopelessness The physical and mental toll was rough—countless tests and scans, monthly (or more frequent) ER visits for severe flares, mental breakdowns, anxiety, fear, panic, depression, insecurity, doubt, and hopelessness. — Shannon Dingey, Health, 1 July 2026 But where some might see hopelessness, Ortiz sees an opportunity for connection. — Joy Resmovits For The Trace, CBS News, 23 June 2026 And when young people feel disconnected or believe systems are unresponsive to their daily experiences, that disconnection can deepen isolation and hopelessness. — Monica Gordon, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2026 There were scandals and heartbreak and dysfunction and, worst of all, a hopelessness. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 14 June 2026 That essay, written in 1940 — the same year Native Son was published — is suffused with profound hopelessness for what was indeed to come. — Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 But despite the colorful surroundings, there’s a pervasive hopelessness in this off-kilter world that looks a lot like our own. — ABC News, 20 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopelessness
  1. desperation
  2. despair
  3. sadness
Noun
  • Lama, 28 years old, softspoken and shy, walks quietly among them, equal parts desperation and dread.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • The heaps of body horror and gritty special effects definitely helped, on top of a breakout performance from Sharlto Copley who conveyed a palpable sense of desperation.
    — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 23 July 2026
Definition of desperation
Noun
  • That sense of despair could be because the album captured the band in a state of crisis.
    — Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 19 July 2026
  • Rayan Cherki captured the sense of shock and despair among the France players on a day when their World Cup dream died, in a 2-0 defeat to Spain that was as emphatic as the scoreline suggests.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of despair
Noun
  • Each new body part is tinged with a bit of pleasure, pushing up against the edges of my sadness and embracing it chummily.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • The Hole Truth And Nothing Butt, telling the story of these Texan wildmen and their real-life moments of brilliance and hilarity, with revelations of profound sadness.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 20 July 2026
Definition of sadness

Browse Nearby Words

hopeless
hopelessness
hopes
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Cite this Entry

“Hopelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopelessness. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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