hopeless

Adjective

hopeless (comparative more hopeless, superlative most hopeless)

1. Without hope; despairing; not expecting anything positive.
   • I am a woman, friendless, hopeless.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio)...
   • And he a prince; To marry him is hopeleſſe;1613–1614 (date written), John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speare, The Two Noble Kinsmen: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Cotes, for Iohn Waterson; […], published 1634, →OCLC, Act II, scene iii, page 31
2. Giving no ground of hope; promising nothing desirable; desperate.
   • My mind is a camera / Camela mon camela ambra / It brings into focus / The dreams of kings / And even the hopeless1970, The Friends of Distinction, “My Mind Is a Camera”, in Real Friends
3. Without talent, not skilled.
   • He's a hopeless writer, but can draw very well.
   • " It is a pure waste of time." "Not at all," Malone answered. "It has ventilated an evil. There were reporters in court. Surely some of them have some sense. They will note the injustice." "Not they," said Mailey. "The Press is hopeless. My God, what a responsibility these people take on...1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019
4. (figuratively) Of an adverse condition, incurable.
   • She is a hopeless romantic.
   • He is a hopeless idler.