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.
“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
A "significant minority" also reported symptoms such as depression - 17.9%, hopelessness - 15.6%, or panic attacks - 8%.
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026
"It just feels bizarre, and I find so many of us don't really know how to feel right now, besides rage and hopelessness," she said.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
A sense of hopelessness spread in my heart like the stains spreading on my skirt.
From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman
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.
