1
a
: having no expectation of good or success : despairing
felt hopeless and alone
b
: not susceptible to remedy or cure
doctors say his condition is hopeless
c
: incapable of redemption or improvement
She's a hopeless romantic.
the most hopeless group of golfers you've ever seen
2
b
: incapable of solution, management, or accomplishment : impossible
a hopeless task
hopelessness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of hopeless in a Sentence
He felt confused and hopeless after losing his job.
We were the most hopeless group of golfers you ever saw.
He's very ill, but his condition isn't hopeless.
Recent Examples on the Web
Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde
By Jeff Guinn
The Half Life of Valery K, by Natasha Pulley
From its first pages, The Half Life of Valery K gets to the core of what humans facing a seemingly hopeless situation must do to carry on.
—
Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Similarly, Eden wondered if finishing a half-Ironman just months after giving birth was hopeless.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 2 Jan. 2025
Most show warning signs, such as talking about wanting to die and feeling hopeless, increasingly using drugs or alcohol or withdrawing or feeling isolated.
—Max Kutner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2024
Limit Media Exposure Without Putting Your Head in the Sand
Staying informed is essential for leaders, but constantly consuming the news can leave you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
—Amy Blankson, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hopeless 
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Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Similarly, Eden wondered if finishing a half-Ironman just months after giving birth was hopeless.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 2 Jan. 2025
Most show warning signs, such as talking about wanting to die and feeling hopeless, increasingly using drugs or alcohol or withdrawing or feeling isolated.
—Max Kutner, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Dec. 2024
Limit Media Exposure Without Putting Your Head in the Sand
Staying informed is essential for leaders, but constantly consuming the news can leave you feeling overwhelmed and hopeless.
—Amy Blankson, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hopeless
Articles Related to hopeless
Dictionary Entries Near hopeless
Cite this Entry
“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hopeless. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hopeless
adjective
hope·less
ˈhō-pləs 
1
a
: having no expectation of good or success
b
2
a
: giving no reason for hope : desperate
a hopeless situation
b
: incapable of solution or accomplishment : impossible
a hopeless task
hopelessly
adverb
hopelessness
noun
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