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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 exact number of people going south is impossible to count, but anecdotally there is no question the numbers are in the thousands and quickly rising.
    Matt Rivers, ABC News, 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
  • Especially sad is the case of Netta, one of Liat’s three children, who survived the attack.
    Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Feb. 2025
  • The range of weapons and passive abilities that drop from major enemies just encourage different playstyles, rather than shoving you into a sad corner full of regrets.
    Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Germans are more pessimistic about their living standards now than at any time since the financial crisis in 2008.
    Sarah Marsh and Matthias Williams, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Jones: Welcome back to pessimistic predictions with Andy Jones!
    Sam Lee, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Many previous Trump advisers, including Mr. Bolton, have tried to contain Mr. Trump, with unhappy results.
    Michael Crowley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Thus, Amazon knows there won't be a raft of unhappy customers complaining about losing their apps.
    Ryan Whitwam, Ars Technica, 20 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

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