hoffnungslos

Hoffnungslos is a German adjective meaning without hope, or hopeless. It describes a person, situation, or attitude that lacks hope or expectation of improvement. The noun form is Hoffnungslosigkeit, used to denote hopelessness. In everyday language it can modify nouns: eine hoffnungslose Lage; eine hoffnungslose Situation.

Etymology: It is a compound of Hoffnung (hope) and los (without, without hold). The suffix los forms adjectives indicating absence. It is related to hoffnungsvoll (hopeful), as well as terms such as Pessimismus and Verzweiflung. The word often carries a strong emotional charge and can convey resignation.

Usage: The term is neutral to formal, but can carry strong emotional weight depending on context. It can describe personal feelings, social or political conditions, or the tone of a text. Antonyms include hoffnungsvoll and zuversichtlich. The adverbial use is also hoffnungslos, modifying verbs or clauses, e.g., Die Lage ist hoffnungslos; Er kämpfte hoffnungslos weiter. In literary or journalistic writing it may be used to heighten mood or convey bleakness.

Cultural and linguistic notes: In literature and media, Hoffnungslosheit is a common theme to portray despair or existential crisis. The word reflects a clear contrast to hope and optimism and is frequently juxtaposed with terms like Hoffnung, Zuversicht oder Optimismus.