hapless

/ˈhæpləs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhæpləs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈha-pləs/ (ame, mw)

hapless — adjective

  • haplesspositive
  • more haplesscomparative
  • most haplesssuperlative

1. describes a person who keeps suffering bad things happening to them through no f

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a person who keeps suffering bad things happening to them through no fault of their own, so the listener feels sorry for them — for example, a traveller whose flights are cancelled three times in a row.

例句

The hapless tourist arrived in Lisbon with no passport and no spare cash.

typical attributive use: hapless + noun describing a person

Ari felt sorry for the hapless waiter who dropped three plates in one shift.

同義詞
  • unfortunate

    everyday neutral word; 'hapless' adds a stronger note of pity and is more literary

  • luckless

    near-synonym, slightly less formal; both stress repeated bad luck

  • ill-fated

    applies more to events or ventures doomed to fail, not to people themselves

反義詞
  • fortunate

    neutral opposite — someone things go well for

  • lucky

    everyday opposite; lacks the literary tone of 'hapless'

文法句型

hapless + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used attributively before a noun (hapless victim, hapless tourist); rarely 'the man was hapless'. Carries a tone of pity or gentle mockery — the bad luck happens TO the person, not because of any failing of their own.

常見錯誤

❌He was hapless when he heard the news.
✅The hapless father heard the news while still at work.
💡'hapless' modifies a noun, not a state at a moment in time; use 'helpless' or 'shocked' for the feeling.
❌The hapless decision cost the company millions.
✅The hapless executive made a decision that cost the company millions.
💡'hapless' describes a person who suffers bad luck, not the action or thing itself.