hopeless

adjective hope·less \ˈhō-pləs\

: having or feeling no hope

: unable to be changed

: unable to be helped or improved : very bad

Full Definition of HOPELESS

a : having no expectation of good or success : despairing

b : not susceptible to remedy or cure

c : incapable of redemption or improvement

a : giving no ground for hope : desperate

b : incapable of solution, management, or accomplishment : impossible

— hope·less·ness noun

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First Known Use of HOPELESS

1534

Related to HOPELESS

Synonyms: incorrigible, incurable, irrecoverable, irredeemable, irreformable, irremediable, irretrievable, unrecoverable, unredeemable

Antonyms: curable, reclaimable, recoverable, redeemable, reformable, remediable, retrievable, savable (or saveable)

Synonym Discussion of HOPELESS

despondent, despairing, desperate, hopeless mean having lost all or nearly all hope. despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort <despondent about yet another rejection>. despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency <despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child>. 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>. hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation <the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless>.

HOPELESS Defined for Kids