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Definition of hapless

hapless

/ˈhæp.ləs/
hap · less
Adverb:haplessly
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hapless Lexical Profile

hapless Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Unfortunate, unlucky, and deserving of pity; Marked by persistent bad luck or a series of mishaps.

Example

"The hapless travelers were stranded at the airport for two days after their flight was canceled during a snowstorm."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hapless
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hapless

Word Nuance & Usage

'Hapless' is almost exclusively used attributively (before a noun, as in 'a hapless tourist') rather than predicatively, and it specifically evokes pity for someone who is a passive victim of bad luck.

• Rhymes for hapless

• Nearby Words

hapax
haphazard
haphazardly
hapless
haplessly
happen
happening

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in Middle English from the noun 'hap' (meaning 'chance' or 'fortune', from Old Norse 'happ', the same root that gave rise to 'happy' and 'happen') combined with the privative suffix '-less'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hapless. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hapless
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