different between hopeless vs pathetic

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

Alternative forms

• pathetick (archaic)
• patheticke (obsolete)
• pathetique (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle French pathétique, from Latin patheticus, from Ancient Greek ????????? (path?tikós, “subject to feeling, capable of feeling, impassioned”), from ??????? (path?tós, “one who has suffered, subject to suffering”), from ????? (páskh?, “to suffer”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /p????t?k/
• Rhymes: -?t?k

Adjective

pathetic (comparative more pathetic, superlative most pathetic)

1. Arousing pity, sympathy, or compassion; exciting pathos.

   The child’s pathetic pleas for forgiveness stirred the young man’s heart.

   • 1883: George Reynolds, "History of the Book of Mormon: Contents of the Records, II," Contributor

     We have now arrived at one of the most pathetic and glorious events in the history of Israel, one which sanctifies the Lamanite race with the powers of martyrdom, and, by the blood of the victims, washes its garments white from many a former sin.
2. Arousing scorn or contempt, often due to miserable inadequacy.

   You can't even run two miles? That’s pathetic.

   You're almost 26 years old and you still can't hold a real job? That's pathetic.
3. (obsolete) Expressing or showing anger; passionate.
4. (anatomy) Trochlear.

Synonyms

• (arousing pity): pitiful, wretched, miserable, deplorable, pathetisad
• (arousing scorn): disgraceful, shameful, despicable, dishonorable

Derived terms

• patheticism
• patheticness
• pathetics

Related terms

• pathos

Translations

Further reading

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