hopeless
8 synonyms and 1 antonyms for hopeless, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Without hope; expecting nothing good to happen.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use hopeless
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From hope + -less ("without").
Full origin of hopeless →Frequently asked questions
What does “hopeless” mean?
The word “hopeless” means without hope; expecting nothing good to happen. In plain terms, without any hope — or, informally, just very bad at something.
How do you pronounce “hopeless”?
“Hopeless” is pronounced HOHP-lihs (/ˈhoʊplɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “hopeless” in a sentence?
Here is “hopeless” used in a sentence: “He felt hopeless after losing his job for the third time.”
What is another word for “hopeless”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hopeless” include desperate, unhopeful and forlorn.
What is the opposite of “hopeless”?
The opposite of “hopeless” — its antonyms — is hopeful.
What part of speech is “hopeless”?
“Hopeless” is an adjective.
Is “hopeless” a common word?
“Hopeless” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “hopeless” have?
“Hopeless” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: without hope; expecting nothing good to happen.
What is the difference between hopeless and helpless?
Hopeless means expecting nothing good to happen or offering no chance of a good result, while helpless means unable to help or protect oneself. A situation can be hopeless without a person being helpless, and vice versa.
What does it mean to be 'hopeless at' something?
Being 'hopeless at' something means completely lacking skill or ability at that activity, such as being hopeless at cooking or hopeless at sports.
What is the difference between hopeless and pointless?
Hopeless suggests a situation offers no realistic chance of a good outcome, while pointless suggests an action or effort has no purpose or benefit at all, even if success were possible.