hopeless

adjective

ˈhō-pləs How to pronounce hopeless (audio)
Definition of hopelessnext
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 soulmate

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective hopeless differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of hopeless are despairing, desperate, and despondent. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

When is despairing a more appropriate choice than hopeless?

The meanings of despairing and hopeless largely overlap; however, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

In what contexts can desperate take the place of hopeless?

While the synonyms desperate and hopeless are close in meaning, desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

When can despondent be used instead of hopeless?

While in some cases nearly identical to hopeless, despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

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 hopeless The situation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would almost certainly worsen and become more hopeless. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026 The 41-year-old Portuguese footballer managed to put two past a hopeless Uzbekistan, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cups. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 Felicity Thoughtful, impulsive, hopeless romantic whose hair choices overshadowed everything. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 June 2026 Released June 12, the 13-track album follows the Grammy winner’s SOUR and GUTS, marking a brand-new chapter in Rodrigo’s hopeless-romantic songwriting journey. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
  1. incurable
  2. cynical
  3. impossible
  4. desperate
  5. despairing
  6. sad
  7. pessimistic
  8. unhappy
Adjective
  • In addition, patients with incurable or irreversible conditions no longer have to certify annually.
    — Emily McLeod, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • She had been diagnosed in 2006 — at age 46 — with late-stage follicular non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which has long been deemed incurable.
    — Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Definition of incurable
Adjective
  • His willingness to move to Rio de Janeiro upon taking the job endeared him to the cynical public, as did his decision to call up Neymar to his squad to quieten the noise the forward’s potential exclusion would have brought with it.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • Against the run of play, the Atlas Lions won a free kick near the corner of the box after Luc De Fougerolles was booked for a cynical challenge.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • The ombudsmen point to impossible care burdens that cause burnout, irregular schedules, lack of training and the difficulty of taking care of seniors who, in previous decades, would have qualified for hospital care.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
  • Shrouded completely in a thick, poisonous cloud cover, its surface is obviously impossible to observe.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
Definition of impossible
Adjective
  • Cubans strolled along el Paseo del Prado promenade in the inky night, desperate to escape the stifling heat of their homes.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Panicked parents crowded behind police tape, desperate to find their children.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of desperate
Adjective
  • His shot, low and hard and uncorked with minimal back-lift of his left foot, bounced through the gap between the despairing goalkeeper and his near post.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • After 25 years, you'd be forgiven for thinking — despairing, really — that the formula for a perfect Scary Movie has been forgotten.
    — Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
Definition of despairing
Adjective
  • Day broke, bathing everything in light, and so great was the vitality of the early-morning sun that even the unhappy city seemed to smile a wan, sad smile.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • But SpringHill really took off in 2020, two seasons into James’ Lakers term, when The SpringHill Company went public (and the Lakers won the sad COVID-bubble NBA Championship).
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Recent polls show majority of voters are pessimistic about the economy and a lasting peace deal with Iran.
    — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Definition of pessimistic
Adjective
  • The decade was an unhappy panorama of inflation, gas shortages, military humiliation, and revelations of political corruption.
    — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • On Tuesday, Paul urged Americans who are unhappy with the justices’ ruling to support his proposal.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 June 2026
Definition of unhappy

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hopeless

Nglish: Translation of hopeless for Spanish Speakers

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