hopelessness
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of hopelessness
First recorded in 1805–10; hopeless ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The toxic result is a deepening sense of hopelessness among younger people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Unfortunately, that may result in feelings of anger, frustration, anxiety or hopelessness.
From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026
“I refuse to live in hopelessness and trauma,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2026
These can include hopelessness, difficulty thinking clearly, or anhedonia -- the inability to feel pleasure and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
From Science Daily ● May 4, 2026
It seemed to many, including Karl Marx who published the first part of Das Kapital in 1867, to promote nothing but widespread poverty, inequality and hopelessness.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
