Word
hopelessness
Phoneticshope·less·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhoʊpɫəsnəs/
UK/hˈəʊpləsnəs/
Definition
n. a feeling that nothing will ever change or that you cannot succeed. It is the opposite of feeling hopeful.
n. a state of mind characterized by a lack of belief in the possibility of a positive outcome or change.
Examples
“The feeling of hopelessness grew as the days passed.”
“After months of failed negotiations, the team began to feel a sense of hopelessness about the project.”
“The protagonist's journey is defined by a struggle against the pervasive hopelessness of his environment, eventually finding a small spark of resilience that allows him to move forward.”
Examples
simple
“The feeling of hopelessness grew as the days passed.”
contextual
“After months of failed negotiations, the team began to feel a sense of hopelessness about the project.”
complex
“The protagonist's journey is defined by a struggle against the pervasive hopelessness of his environment, eventually finding a small spark of resilience that allows him to move forward.”
Real-World Examples
“They also reported stress and feelings of hopelessness.” Etymology
From hopeless + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hopelessness