HOPELESS Synonyms: 254 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

hopeless

adjective

ˈhō-pləs

Definition of hopeless next

as in incurable

not capable of being cured or reformed a hopeless optimist who looked for the good in everyone and everything was a hopeless romantic who never stopped looking for a soul mate

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cynical

emphasizing or expecting the worst the poor woman was feeling hopeless about ever finding her lost cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in impossible

incapable of being solved or accomplished keeping this desk organized is hopeless

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in desperate

feeling or showing no hope the hopeless look on the faces of the fans as the other team scored again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 But the situation is far from hopeless: over the long term the demographic and economic strains of the war will prove unmanageable for the Kremlin, forcing hard choices. —

John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025 And look how well things are going for them — staring down a 14th straight season without a playoff berth, too young to tear it all down, too mediocre to win the lottery, too hopeless to see any sort of light at the end of this endless dark tunnel. —

Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 The battle between parents and tech-savvy children over access to the Internet and apps might seem hopeless. —

Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 26 Dec. 2024 Burns is asked how to avoid feeling hopeless during a stretch like this. —

Dan Duggan, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hopeless

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless

Adjective

While Richards’ family did not disclose her cause of death in the statement, Richards spoke openly with CNN’s Anderson Cooper last June about her battle with glioblastoma– an aggressive type of brain cancer that is incurable and has a survival rate of 12 to 18 months.

— Michelle Krupa, CNN, 20 Jan. 2025
Richards had revealed in early 2024 that she’d been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 20 Jan. 2025