as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the fans' hopelessness was dispelled as their team mounted a comeback
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Recent Examples of hopelessness
The other featured a comeback that saw hopelessness turn into jubilation.
—
Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Depression and hopelessness are at their highest ever measured.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
And with that came a feeling of complete hopelessness.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Peter Warren, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.
—Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Depression and hopelessness are at their highest ever measured.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 Mar. 2026
If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
And with that came a feeling of complete hopelessness.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopelessness
Noun
-
The freshmen went back in forth, but Illinois missed its last three desperation attempts and UConn made five of its six free throws down the stretch.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
5 Apr. 2026
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Deftly drawing from folk, soul, blues, funk and country, Armatrading sings of love lost, won and desired, heady aspirations and quiet desperation, in a deep, richly moving voice.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The festival hopes to encourage artists and fans to turn to comedy, theater, creativity and community instead of despair.—
Candace Hansen,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Resisting despair, both private and social, has long been central to Lerner’s mission.—
Giles Harvey,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Curtis revealed that Annie, who welcomed her baby boy with husband Jason Wolf in December, was able to take the grief and sadness of losing her godparents and birth as a new beginning.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There will be deaths, of characters as well as relationships, but McInerney’s always-sharp insights on social strata and human nature guarantee that in the midst of sadness we are also entertained.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hopelessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopelessness. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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