Hopeless: meaning, definitions and examples

This word is appropriate when describing a situation or a feeling where there seems to be no chance of success or improvement.

• The outlook for the project seemed hopeless after the main investor pulled out.
• She felt hopeless about the chances of finding a new job soon.

This word fits when someone feels they are in a very bad or difficult situation and are willing to do anything to change it.

• He was so desperate for money that he considered selling his car.
• In a desperate attempt to save her job, she worked long hours and weekends.

Appropriate for someone who always expects the worst or has a negative outlook on future events.

• He's always pessimistic about the economy and believes a recession is just around the corner.
• Her pessimistic attitude made it hard for her to enjoy the party.

Use this word when someone has lost a battle, competition, or struggle, or when someone feels like they have failed.

• After losing the match, he walked off the field feeling utterly defeated.
• She looked defeated after receiving yet another rejection letter.

Use 'hopeless' to describe a situation or a person that seems to have no chance of improvement or success. It often carries a strong emotional tone of despair.

• After multiple attempts, he felt hopeless about passing the exam.
• The team seemed hopeless as they faced a much stronger opponent.

Use 'futile' to describe actions or efforts that are pointless because they have no chance of succeeding. It often conveys a sense of inevitability.

• Trying to change his mind was futile; he was set in his ways.
• All efforts to contain the spill proved futile.

Use 'unpromising' to describe situations or things that do not show any signs of success or improvement. It usually focuses more on the initial appearance rather than the end result.

• The weather looked unpromising for their outdoor wedding.
• Despite an unpromising start, the project eventually succeeded.

Use 'fruitless' when referring to efforts or actions that do not produce the desired results or outcomes. It's often used in a slightly formal or literary context.

• Their negotiations proved fruitless, leading to no agreement.
• She spent hours searching for her keys, but it was a fruitless effort.