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Synonyms

hapless

American  
[hap-lis] / ˈhæp lɪs /

adjective

  1. unlucky; luckless; unfortunate.

    Synonyms:
    pitiable, pathetic, forlorn, wretched, woebegone, miserable, miserable
hapless British  
/ ˈhæplɪs /

adjective

  1. unfortunate; wretched

"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

Other Word Forms

  • haplessly adverb
  • haplessness noun

Etymology

Origin of hapless

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

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.

Sam is hapless and downwardly mobile, yet he’s as likable as a shy puppy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Baldwin was so hapless that he didn’t even know when he was near death.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

After sailing virtually unscathed through most of the series, Rachel in particular gave a masterclass in deception by continually and subtly nudging the hapless faithfuls off the scent.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

The new ads reunite Justin Long, who embodied a hip Mac laptop in Apple’s commercials, with John Hodgman, who played a hapless PC.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

It was hard to believe he was the same hapless dreamer who used to walk into walls while reading.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

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.