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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 Franco is the heir apparent to the Michael Haneke world of unsettled, austere psychological pain against geopolitical backdrops onscreen, and Chastain is more game than ever to play along with his hopeless world. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025 This week offers a couple of new series with a not entirely hopeless political bent, both premiering Wednesday — one a British conspiracy thriller with Gen Z heroes, the other a cheery Swedish satire based on an actual Cold War event. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025 But as dire as all of this is, the situation is not hopeless. Lawrence Norden, TIME, 12 Feb. 2025 Cancer: Henry Roth from 50 First Dates As a hopeless romantic with a nurturing heart, Henry Roth embodies the personality traits of a Cancer. Athena Sobhan, People.com, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • In the decade since she was diagnosed with an incurable brain disease, Joline Tingler has been in and out of a half dozen Orange County homeless shelters.
    CalMatters, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Harlow, born Chantelle Brown-Young, was diagnosed with vitiligo, an incurable skin pigmentation disease that causes colorless patches to develop on a person’s body, at the age of four.
    Jack Guy, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • It’s packed with tough love, cathartic activities, and positive affirmations that won’t leave cynical folks rolling their eyes.
    Kristin Canning, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025
  • It’s been cool and cynical, surreal and silly, bold enough to make adolescents of all ages feel daring for staying up past 11:30 (or catching up on YouTube the next morning) and safe enough to keep advertisers and network executives happy.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Do what would be impossible in reality – explore 3D structures, perform simulated surgeries, or conduct physics experiments in zero gravity.
    Ray Ravaglia, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The administration argued that meeting the judge's deadline by Wednesday would be logistically impossible due to the complexities of verifying contracts under new oversight procedures.
    Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Balance enthusiasm with professionalism by showing energy without appearing desperate or overconfident.
    Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • And the people waiting for him, desperate to have a leaking tap fixed.
    Colm Tóibín, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Western allies of the United States gathered in Munich this past week, anxious, adrift and despairing in the face of President Trump’s brute display of muscle-flexing on the global stage.
    Mark Landler, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Bleak as that may sound, the musical finds rare shards of light — and an unlikely connection — in the most despairing of places.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Oklahoma represents the sad conclusion of the Trail of Tears, and Tulsa serves as the meeting point for tribal nations—the Osage, Muscogee, and Cherokee.
    Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Police sad officers began providing aid to Mitchell, but medics later pronounced him dead at the scene.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The pessimistic analysis has not paid nearly enough attention to the weak underpinnings of Russian military power.
    Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025
  • More uncertainty correlates with slower industrial production growth and more pessimistic consumer outlooks on the future.
    Christian Weller, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Penguins listed Bunting as a healthy scratch early this season because coaches were unhappy with his effort in games and practices.
    Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Independent distributors are unhappy with the growing percentage of royalty payments for their artists that are too low to be worth processing.
    Bill Rosenblatt, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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