English edit

Etymology edit

hope +‎ -less, compare Swedish hopplös.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

hopeless (comparative more hopeless, superlative most hopeless)

  1. Without hope; despairing; not expecting anything positive.
  2. Giving no ground of hope; promising nothing desirable; desperate.
    a hopeless cause
  3. Without talent, not skilled.
    He's a hopeless writer, but can draw very well.
    • 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
      " It is a pure waste of time." "Not at all," Malone answered. "It has ventilated an evil. There were reporters in court. Surely some of them have some sense. They will note the injustice." "Not they," said Mailey. "The Press is hopeless. My God, what a responsibility these people take on themselves, and how little they guess the price that each will pay! I know."
  4. (of an adverse condition) Incurable.
    She is a hopeless romantic.
    He is a hopeless idler.

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