no-hoper

American

[noh-hoh-per] / ˈnoʊˈhoʊ pər /

noun

a useless person from whom nothing can be expected.

no-hoper British

noun

informal a useless person; failure

"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

Etymology

Origin of no-hoper

1940–45; no hope + -er ¹

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 has completely broken the scale of superstar development, fast-forwarding his team from no-hoper waiting for draft picks into a true championship contender.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

I’m a bit less convinced than Ryan that a Biden campaign would be a no-hoper.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 27, 2015

But when they botched a chance to win the American League division series at home in Game 4, a trip to the Bronx for Game 5 Thursday night was a no-hoper.

From New York Times • Oct. 7, 2011

Intelligent and substantial though Clegg may well be, the media excitement and amazement is still perversely, and perhaps even mischievously, centred on his no-hoper image.

From The Guardian • Apr. 21, 2010

Ned Rose is the title figure, a no-hoper in early middle age, who checks the oxygen levels in the 16 ponds of a Mississippi catfish farm.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023