different between hopeless vs clumsy

English

Etymology

hope +? -less, compare Swedish hopplös.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?ho?pl?s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??pl?s/
• Hyphenation: hope?less

Adjective

hopeless (comparative more hopeless, superlative most hopeless)

1. Without hope; despairing; not expecting anything positive.
2. Giving no ground of hope; promising nothing desirable; desperate.

3. Without talent, not skilled.

   He's a hopeless writer, but can draw very well.
4. (of an adverse condition) Incurable.

   She is a hopeless romantic.

   He is a hopeless idler.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "hopeless" is often applied: case, situation, romantic, love, cause, person, despair, life, undertaking, alcoholic, man, endeavor, place, pain, agony, project.

Synonyms

• desperate
• unhopeful

Antonyms

• hopeful

Translations

References

• hopeless in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• hopeless in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• hopeless at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) +? -y. More at clumse.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?kl?mzi/

Adjective

clumsy (comparative clumsier, superlative clumsiest)

1. Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.

   He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.

2. Not elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.

   It is a clumsy solution, but it might work for now.

   What a clumsy joke...

3. Awkward or inefficient in use or construction, difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape.

Translations

Noun

clumsy (plural clumsies)

1. (informal, fairly rare) A clumsy person.
   • 1934, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins

     “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water. “That was for your father’s shaving.”

Synonyms

• butterfingers
• galoot
• klutz

Translations

See also

• clumsies

Anagrams

• cumyls, muscly