hopeless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hopeless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or feeling where there is no expectation of a positive outcome or where one feels despair. Example: "After trying everything to fix the car, I felt completely hopeless."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was hopeless.

The New York Times - Magazine

Lamb has made no attempt to hide his anger at the slow progress, acknowledging the programme has proved an abject failure and describing it in an interview with the Health Service Journal as "utterly hopeless" and his "most depressing and frustrating task".

The Guardian

"Basically my major problem with [the Invisible Children] video is that it simplifies the story of millions of people in northern Uganda, and makes out a [misconception] that is often heard about Africa, about how hopeless people are in times of conflict".

The Guardian

As an instrument of the internationalism it was set up to pursue, it is hopeless.

The Guardian - Business

I get a lot of these calls – I still use a landline, because mobile reception is hopeless in my flat.

The Guardian - Money

There came to be something you could recognise as a Theatre Upstairs play: hopeless, socially realistic and violent.

The Guardian

It is only after you come out of the other side of a tunnel into the daylight that you realise quite how dark and hopeless it had been before.

The Guardian

And there's little chance that What Would Kenny Do? will be nearly as hopeless as 1997's Double Team, the film that consciously decided to buddy Jean-Claude Van Damme with green-haired basketball weirdo Dennis Rodman and make them battle a nonspecific international conspiracy by jumping out of an aeroplane and getting chased around by tigers.

The Guardian - Film

Inevitably, in the coming twelve months, this will seem like a hopeless battle.

The Guardian

But arguably no greater match-winning innings has ever been born in such hopeless adversity.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm still hopeless on a motorbike," he says.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hopeless" to convey a sense of utter despair or the absence of any positive expectation. For a more nuanced expression, consider alternatives like "pessimistic" or "bleak" depending on the specific context.

Common error

Avoid using "hopeless" when the situation is only mildly negative or uncertain. Using it in such contexts can exaggerate the severity of the situation, making your writing sound melodramatic or insincere. Instead, consider using more appropriate terms like "difficult", "challenging", or "uncertain".

Linguistic Context

The adjective "hopeless" primarily functions to describe a state or situation that offers no prospect of success or improvement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples, highlighting its descriptive role. It directly modifies nouns, conveying a sense of despair or futility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sport

15%

Film

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

9%

Encyclopedias

9%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hopeless" is a widely used adjective to describe situations or feelings devoid of hope or positive outcomes. As Ludwig AI's analysis indicates, the term is grammatically sound and frequently appears in news, media, film, and sports contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid overusing "hopeless" in mildly negative situations to maintain appropriate tone and impact. Consider alternatives like "despairing" or "pessimistic" for nuanced expression. With a high source quality score and expert rating, "hopeless" remains a powerful descriptor when used judiciously.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without hope

Directly conveys the absence of hope, similar to "hopeless" but phrased differently.

despairing

Emphasizes the feeling of lost hope and resignation.

pessimistic

Focuses on a general expectation of negative outcomes, rather than a complete lack of hope.

bleak

Describes a situation that appears grim and unpromising.

desperate

Highlights the urgency and extreme measures taken due to lack of hope.

in despair

Expresses a state of utter loss of hope.

without prospect

Indicates a lack of positive future outlook.

doomed

Suggests an inevitable negative outcome.

beyond remedy

Implies that a situation cannot be fixed or improved.

irremediable

Focuses on the impossibility of correcting or improving a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "hopeless" in a sentence?

You can use "hopeless" to describe a situation or feeling where there is no expectation of a positive outcome. For example, "After searching for hours, I felt completely hopeless."

What can I say instead of "hopeless"?

You can use alternatives like "despairing", "pessimistic", or "bleak" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hopeless" or "without hope"?

Both "hopeless" and "without hope" are correct, but "hopeless" is a single adjective, while "without hope" is a prepositional phrase. The choice depends on the desired sentence structure.

What's the difference between "hopeless" and "helpless"?

"Hopeless" describes a lack of positive expectation, while "helpless" describes an inability to act or change a situation. Someone can feel "helpless" without feeling completely "hopeless", and vice versa.