as in unfortunate
having, prone to, or marked by bad luck
the hapless motorist had barely paid his bill and driven away from the body shop when a truck sideswiped his car
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Recent Examples of hapless
Beau, played hapless and pitiable by Joaquin Phoenix, can’t go five minutes without dodging violent street punks, or fielding calls from his emotionally abusive mother, or narrowly escaping gunfire.
—
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
The other main cast member, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), a human familiar turned vampire turned human once more, isn’t in this scene, having once again left the house in the dangerously hapless hands of his immortal onetime employers.
—Devin Oktar Yalkin, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Few leave unscathed as the handheld camera whip-pans and fast-zooms between cringe-comedy and genuine pathos and back again — especially once the hapless prof paves his own road to hell with his good intentions.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
As Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie took on the role of hapless underdog against the heavy favorite Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court on Tuesday, another David and Goliath battle was taking place in the High Court.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hapless
Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025
The other main cast member, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén), a human familiar turned vampire turned human once more, isn’t in this scene, having once again left the house in the dangerously hapless hands of his immortal onetime employers.
—Devin Oktar Yalkin, Vulture, 15 July 2025
Few leave unscathed as the handheld camera whip-pans and fast-zooms between cringe-comedy and genuine pathos and back again — especially once the hapless prof paves his own road to hell with his good intentions.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
As Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie took on the role of hapless underdog against the heavy favorite Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court on Tuesday, another David and Goliath battle was taking place in the High Court.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hapless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hapless
Adjective
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Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
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Fortunately for him, that gaffe will be a little easier to live down than Teal and Weinberg’s unfortunate comments.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Galino is unhappy with how Jimenez is running his territory, and thinks Tommy can help the cartel get into the oil business.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 July 2025
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Things will become much clearer once Jenkins — who is unhappy with his current contract is currently sidelined with a back injury — begins practicing.—
Rob Reischel,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hapless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hapless. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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