Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - hopeless

~ adj 1 a hopeless situation is so bad that there is no chance of success or improvement  (be in a hopeless mess/state/condition)  (The economy is in a hopeless mess.) 2 if something that you try to do is hopeless, there is no possibility of it being successful  (it is hopeless)  (We tried to stop the flames from spreading, but we knew it was hopeless | a hopeless task) 3 informal very bad at doing something  (a hopeless cook | be hopeless (at doing sth))  (I've always been hopeless at spelling. | Oh, Dan you forgot the potatoes - you're hopeless.) 4 feeling no hope  (hopeless looks on the faces of the refugees.) 5 hopeless case often humorous someone who cannot be helped  (He had power to cure even hopeless cases.) - hopelessness n