hoples: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Standard (Common in formal and informal contexts)
Quick answer
What does “hoples” mean?
feeling or causing no hope.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
feeling or causing no hope; without possibility of success, improvement, or rescue.
Describing someone as very bad at something; describing a situation that cannot succeed or be improved; expressing a feeling of despair.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the informal sense of 'very bad at something' might be slightly more frequent in British English colloquial speech.
Connotations
Identical core connotations of despair and futility.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “hoples” in a Sentence
[Subject] is hopeless at [noun/gerund]It is hopeless to [verb]feel/look/seem hopelessa hopeless [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hoples” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No verb form)
American English
- (No verb form)
adverb
British English
- (Uses adverb form 'hopelessly') He is hopelessly disorganised.
- They were hopelessly outnumbered.
American English
- (Uses adverb form 'hopelessly') I'm hopelessly lost.
- The plan was hopelessly flawed from the start.
adjective
British English
- The weather is hopeless for a picnic.
- She's hopeless at remembering names.
American English
- His search for the document seemed hopeless.
- I'm hopeless when it comes to fixing cars.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used cautiously to describe failing projects or strategies, e.g., 'The market analysis suggests the venture is hopeless.'
Academic
Used in formal writing to describe irretrievable situations or theoretical dead ends.
Everyday
Common for expressing personal despair ('I feel hopeless about it') or gentle criticism ('You're hopeless with technology!').
Technical
Rare; might appear in medical contexts ('a hopeless prognosis') or engineering ('a hopeless design flaw').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoples”
- Using 'hopeless' as a noun (*'a hopeless' – incorrect). It is only an adjective.
- Confusing 'hopeless' with 'hapless' (unlucky).
- Overusing the informal 'bad at' sense in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in two main ways: 1) to describe their emotional state (She felt hopeless). 2) Informally, to describe their lack of skill (He's a hopeless cook). Use the second sense cautiously as it can be critical.
'Hopeless' emphasizes the absence of hope or possibility. 'Desperate' emphasizes urgency and willingness to try anything due to a bad situation. A situation can be hopeless but not desperate (a quiet, inevitable failure). A person can be desperate but not hopeless (they still believe action might help).
Yes, it is inherently negative. Its core meaning relates to failure, despair, or inadequacy. Even the informal 'hopeless romantic' carries a slight tone of gentle mockery for unrealistic optimism.
The related noun is 'hopelessness' (the state of being without hope). Example: 'A deep sense of hopelessness overwhelmed her.'
feeling or causing no hope.
Hoples is usually standard (common in formal and informal contexts) in register.
Hoples: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊpləs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊpləs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a hopeless romantic (someone persistently idealistic about love)”
- “a lost cause (synonymous with 'a hopeless case')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'HOPE-LESS' – literally 'without hope'. Picture a person shrugging with empty hands where hope used to be.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOPE IS A RESOURCE/POSSESSION ('She is *without* hope'), FUTILITY IS A BOTTOMLESS PIT ('a hopeless situation').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'hopeless' used in its informal, 'very bad at' sense?