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.
He sees "a lot of hopelessness out there for the ability to stay in this state, stay in this city in particular," he says.
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
The toxic result is a deepening sense of hopelessness among younger people.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
With more than 40% of U.S. teenagers reporting ongoing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, one child psychologist believes grandparents may be an important part of the solution.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 13, 2026
The despair and hopelessness are a response to feeling powerless in the face of injustice and watching long-standing norms be routinely broken.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
In their broken state, they were judged and condemned by people whose commitment to fairness had been broken by cynicism, hopelessness, and prejudice.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
