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

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 soulmate

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in impossible

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Also, Philly continues to toss these hopeless screens to receiver Makai Lemon that seem like rookie hazing — designed to lose yardage and reduce his hit-points. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 For example, compared to young men, young women who completed the survey were about twice as likely to have felt persistently sad and hopeless, had poor mental health, seriously considered suicide or attempted suicide. — Crystal Cederna, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 In any case, the epilogue sticks the landing and allows audiences to leave the theater feeling riled up rather than hopeless. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026 Corruption was endemic, and the country’s deeper troubles—its poverty, its social inequities, and the hopeless conditions that drive millions of Nepalis to emigrate for work—endured, laying the kindling for last year’s explosion. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopeless

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless

Adjective

After all there’s nothing very funny about an incurable disease that traps you inside your body.

— Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
The issue roiled French politics for years before lawmakers recently approved legislation allowing adults with incurable illnesses to receive lethal medication.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of incurable

Adjective

This time, Michael sounds less idealistic and much more cynical.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Goor and Del Tredici are gearing up to debut their next NBC sitcom, a single-camera workplace comedy starring Jake Johnson as a cynical detective working at a past-its-prime private investigator agency in Hollywood.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

Well, not necessarily unhittable, but impossible to score runs against.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
The documentary contains, through her participation and performance, the accommodation that facts alone are insufficient and maybe impossible.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of impossible

Adjective

The result is a patchwork of rules and regulations for robotaxi operators to follow — an outcome that many industry leaders were desperate to avoid.

— Andrew Hawkins, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
The Mass was being livestreamed on social media when the crucifix fell, recording both the fatal incident and the desperate response from those inside the church.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of desperate

Adjective

Introduced in a state of drunken collapse, Anderson — fearful, bitter, despairing, protective — is quite magnificent limning different levels of intoxication.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Smashed with the instep of Mbappe’s right foot, the ball arced viciously into the top-right corner, beyond Bounou’s despairing dive.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of despairing

Adjective

When the modern-day world has nothing to offer us but AI slop, shrinkflation and a sad acceptance that we can't be bothered to do anything about global warming.

— Ian Stokes, Space.com, 19 Oct. 2026
This island that was so fantastic has become Work Island and that’s sad.

— Joe Lynch, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

With the ongoing Iran war affecting gas prices and other costs staying elevated, Americans overall are deeply pessimistic about the state of the economy and see it as a high priority for the midterms.

— Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Nearly two-thirds of students polled are pessimistic about the job market, a CNBC and SurveyMonkey Quarterly AI and Jobs Survey from May found.

— Jessica Dickler,Annie Nova, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of pessimistic

Adjective

Dudus was apparently unhappy about a recent NBC News article that exposed Combs’ cushy life behind bars.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of unhappy

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“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of hopeless

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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Articles Related to hopeless

Sometimes '-less' Is More

Cite this Entry

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Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

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Popular in Wordplay

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