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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 The hopeless romantic in me was shoved out of the way by the football fan. — Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Starring Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro, the rom-com follows two hopeless romantics who spark a connection on the one night of the year singles are legally allowed to have sex. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026 Allie, a hopeless romantic looking for a genuine connection, heads to a bar with her friend. — Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Allie’s hopeless romanticism isn’t well-established, and there’s a whole complicated climax (no pun intended) involving the Empire State Building that could have been a lot smoother and more intuitive. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hopeless

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hopeless

Adjective

Additionally, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, underwent a lung transplant in June after being diagnosed in 2018 with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung condition.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Metastatic breast cancer remains incurable, and treatment generally continues with the goals of controlling the disease, extending life, managing symptoms and preserving quality of life.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of incurable

Adjective

Elwood told his boss – Peter Brown, a former member of the Beatles’ inner circle and the founder of Brown Lloyd James – that the assignment was impossible.

— Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Such components can benefit from additive manufacturing because the technology lets engineers create geometries that would be difficult or impossible to produce with traditional manufacturing methods.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of impossible

Adjective

Predecessor Eddie Howe had been desperate to bring the Belgian to the club.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Yoon has defended his action, calling it a desperate attempt to draw public support for his fight against the liberal opposition Democratic Party that obstructed his agenda.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of desperate

Adjective

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
After 25 years, you'd be forgiven for thinking — despairing, really — that the formula for a perfect Scary Movie has been forgotten.

— Entertainment Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026

Definition of despairing

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“Hopeless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hopeless. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hopeless

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Synonyms of hopeless

adjective

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Sometimes '-less' Is More

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