hapless

[hap-lis]

adjective

1. unlucky; luckless; unfortunate.

   Synonyms: pitiable, pathetic, forlorn, wretched, woebegone, miserable, miserable

hapless

/ ˈhæplɪs /

adjective

1. unfortunate; wretched

Other Word Forms

• haplessly adverb
• haplessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hapless¹

First recorded in 1560–70; hap ¹ + -less

Example Sentences

The title pair of Kiran Desai’s novel—two young people navigating their Indian identities in contemporary America—are each the subject of hapless matchmaking attempts by their respective grandparents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The hosts grabbed an equaliser when Nakamura turned in the ball at the back post, via a heavy deflection from the hapless Bruno.

Read more on Barron's

Asked how things were going, one delegate sent back a clip from a famous Egyptian soap opera that showed a hapless boss pointlessly opening and closing the lids and drawers of his desk.

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Last time around, when Gerrard took over from the hapless Pedro Caixinha, he could throw out the dross and start again, but it cost a lot of cash and it plunged Rangers into financial challenges.

Read more on BBC

Mr. Molesley endeared audiences with his hapless but well-meaning misadventures in the series, eventually transitioning from footman to local schoolteacher.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• unlucky 
• woeful