Definition of hopelessnext
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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 And for the hopeless romantics among us, there’s confessions of love, yearning, and unlikely lovers. De Elizabeth, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026 Some may feel the problem is hopeless, but on Saturday, one man was undertaking an arduous journey to bring attention to the problem. John Ramos, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026 Despite the divine assistance of stimulants and hallucinogens, looking for paradise in the middle of a desert party is a hopeless path. Álex Maroño Porto, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2026 Beyond this seemingly hopeless trip to Merseyside though, their next four matches come against fellow bottom-half sides, including a huge crunch home date with Forest next Sunday. Mark Carey, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • These will be Dion’s inaugural performances since being diagnosed with stiff person syndrome—a rare, incurable neurological disorder that causes spasms and other physical difficulties—in 2022.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The body approved Castillo’s request based on assessments that evaluated her condition as serious and incurable, and that the 25-year-old had severe, chronic and debilitating suffering.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, they have been taught to evaluate online communications with that cynical approach.
    Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
  • There's far more acceptance for shows trying to be different than ever before, whether the programme is cynical or hopeful in nature.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Many of Florida’s buildings face aging materials, punishing weather, and deferred maintenance that quietly compound until conditions become impossible to ignore and threaten residents’ safety.
    Keegan A. Berry, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The trustworthiness of nearly every website, inbox, and bank account rests on the assumption that these two problems are impossible to solve.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • One desperate woman searching for her uncle even called emergency rooms and police.
    Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • That miscommunication sent the worker on a desperate escape through the woods.
    Erika Stanish, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Rebin carries a despairing sense of hope in him, months later.
    Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Premiering the first of eight episodes on Sunday, March 22, The Comeback’s shaggy, despairing, hilarious, and sometimes baldly sentimental third season spends its first two episodes running through all the horsemen of the Hollywood-pocalypse.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • There were enough people in the room who were sad about the kid.
    Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
  • And that’s really sad, because the latest gen is a genuinely fantastic car.
    Adam Ismail, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As the war drags on, Americans are growing pessimistic about the economy, according to some surveys and polls.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The survey is an indicator of companies foreseeing good conditions minus those feeling pessimistic.
    ABC News, ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The 28-year-old receiver is reportedly unhappy with his situation in Philadelphia, despite winning a Super Bowl a little over a year ago.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
  • But there may be an answer, or at least a compromise that will satisfy those unhappy with the idea of destroying a usable building.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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