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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 This memoir-manifesto could be seen as hopeless, and there is certainly no shortage of carnage in its pages. Andrew R. Chow, Time, 6 June 2025 Those who are convinced they’re trapped stay helpless and hopeless. Amy Morin, CNBC, 12 June 2025 In a world where the powerful increasingly act with impunity, taking fictional villains to task makes sense, a form of Hollywood wish fulfillment for those who feel stuck or hopeless. Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025 Most people’s writing or public speaking is pointless, endless, and hopeless. Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hopeless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless
Adjective
  • Finally, after more than a month of agony, her allergist diagnosed her with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) — an incurable condition marked by hives that last six weeks or longer, with no definitive cause or trigger.
    Diane Herbst, People.com, 11 July 2025
  • The charity run supports people affected by Neurofibromatosis, also known as NF, which is a group of incurable genetic conditions that cause tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body.
    Austin Hornbostel, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • The cynical view would be that Trump is looking for a reason to have federal troops join ICE in rounding up undocumented immigrants that Mamdani tries to protect, and to arrest local officials who get in their way.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
  • There is a certain business logic to that; from a cynical perspective, if a £10million investment fails to live up to expectations, the financial downside for the buying club is relatively small — and in many cases, he will be sold to somewhere lower down the sport’s food chain.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • No sign yet of the Qualcomm fixes from last month which triggered a U.S. government update mandate for federal staff, with a deadline that was impossible to hit.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
  • Nowadays, both men and women are serving faster than ever before, with players regularly reaching service speeds that were once thought to be nearly impossible.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • But this went from an idea that was an automatic community win to an example of desperate nickel and diming.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
  • Young campers, counselors and staff are roused from sleep and begin a desperate rush to higher ground, according to social media accounts.
    HANNAH FINGERHUT, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2025
Adjective
  • People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
  • Alcaraz swung slice serves past a despairing Lehečka’s forehand, while the Czech’s deliveries leapt up off the grass, contorting Alcaraz into uncomfortable return positions.
    James Hansen, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adjective
  • That's the sad reality facing many dogs in the wider shelter system.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
  • Know that all feelings are OK Some kids might be very sad or might be scared, and some kids might not have thought about this at all.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Just 19 per cent are optimistic about the wider UK economy over the next year, versus 63 per cent who are pessimistic – even though 69 per cent remain upbeat about their own firms.
    Philip Salter, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Tennesseans are generally, and understandably, pessimistic.
    Andrea Williams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • This gives the creditor an additional target to pursue and make very unhappy which can indirectly put pressure on the debtor to pay the judgment.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Circulation increased and the publication won two Pulitzer Prizes, but the owner, conservative Harry Guggenheim, was unhappy with the paper’s shift to the left, and he and Moyers were divided over the Vietnam War and the 1968 presidential election.
    Carmel Dagan, Variety, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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