hapless

[ hap-lis ]

/ ˈhæp lɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hapless ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unlucky; luckless; unfortunate.

Nearby words

haphazardly, haphazardry, haphsiba, haphtarah, hapi, hapless, haplite, haplo-, haplobiont, haplography, haplogroup

Origin of hapless

First recorded in 1560–70; hap¹ + -less

SYNONYMS FOR hapless

miserable, woebegone, wretched, forlorn; pathetic, pitiable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hapless ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

hap·less·ly, adverbhap·less·ness, noun

Can be confused

hapless haply happily

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hapless

It helps that Wendy Davis is a hapless opponent, but as a test proving it can be done, any success is welcomed.
How Old People Will Decide Your Future|Stuart Stevens|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“At first I was happy to be learning to read,” explains the hapless adult illiterate Office Barbrady in an early episode.
Why Your Kids Must Watch ‘South Park’|Nick Gillespie|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It becomes a hapless gesture of uninformed social media departments who perceive the potential of engagement without consequences.
Jameis Winston's Inevitable #epicfail|Gideon Resnick|August 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With them are thousands of other hapless mall-goers, descending rapidly into deadly anarchy.
The War Inside: Terrorism & Teenhood in ‘No Dawn Without Darkness’|Hugh Ryan|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Finally, Cleese goose-steps out of the dining room as the hapless Germans cringe and sob.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or Forgive|Clive Irving|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who should call on me but the father of the hapless Harry Robinson.
The Morals of Marcus Ordeyne|William J. Locke
She inquired the name of the man of rank who had acted so treacherously to the hapless girl.
The Golden Dog|William Kirby
The vessels bearing the new Governor and Intendant, however, suffered the most hapless violence.
Old Quebec|Sir Gilbert Parker and Claude Glennon Bryan
Sleep in peace, ill-starred daughter of my hapless fatherland!
The Reign of Greed|Jose Rizal
Yet to them these hapless babes must look for all the earthly happiness they could hope to enjoy.
Life in the Grey Nunnery at Montreal|Sarah J Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for hapless

hapless

/ (ˈhæplɪs) /

adjective

unfortunate; wretched

Derived Forms

haplessly, adverbhaplessness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012