Word Noun
hopelessness
n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhoʊpɫəsnəs/ UK /hˈəʊpləsnəs/ hope·less·ness UK spelling hopelessnesses
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.”
Real-world usage
“They also reported stress and feelings of hopelessness.”
Etymology
From hopeless + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated