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.
"These are sentences which just bring people into hopelessness," she said.
From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026
A second one is a sense of hopelessness.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026
“This is what has given this sense of absolute hopelessness, with people saying: I’ve got nothing else here to lose.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
Research External link from the American Association on Suicidality has found that helplines significantly decrease crisis states and hopelessness.
From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025
When she finally became convinced of the hopelessness of teaching us the piano, she shifted us to other instruments.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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.
