forlorn hope
Doomed last effort
A forlorn hope is a desperate enterprise with little chance of success—an attempt made when all other options have failed.
The phrase comes from Dutch *verloren hoop*, meaning "lost troop," originally referring to soldiers sent ahead on a near-suicidal mission: The rescue was a forlorn hope, but they had to try.
Despite the etymology, English speakers usually interpret it as hope that is forlorn—abandoned or desolate.
Impractically pursuing lofty goals
- doomedDestined for destruction
- vainExcessively proud or futile
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- pointlessLacking any purpose
unattainable · impossible · desperate · unavailing · lost cause · fool's errand · wild goose chase · pipe dream
Foremost position or group
- breachBreaking of agreement
- assaultViolent offensive act
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- sortieArmed raid outward
expendable · advance guard · infiltration · spearhead · decoy · diversion · volunteers · raiders
Suffering for conviction
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- suicide missionAssignment with fatal certainty
- cannon fodderTroops treated as disposable
noble death · self-immolation · kamikaze · ultimate price · gallantry · heroism · valor · devotion
Courage in danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- audacityBrazen, reckless daring
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- intrepidResolutely without fear
dauntless · fearlessness · boldness · fortitude · mettle · pluck · nerve · daring
Total absence of hope
- last resortFinal available option
- hail maryDesperate long-shot attempt
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
- all-or-nothingWithout partial outcomes
do-or-die · last-ditch · final stand · backs to the wall · nothing to lose · against all odds · last gasp · eleventh hour
quixotic
Impractically pursuing lofty goals
pointless · unattainable · impossible · desperate · unavailing · lost cause · fool's errand · wild goose chase · pipe dream · long shot
vanguard
Foremost position or group
sortie · expendable · advance guard · infiltration · spearhead · decoy · diversion · volunteers · raiders · commandos
martyrdom
Suffering for conviction
- selflessnessPrioritizing others over oneself
- expendableAble to be sacrificed
- suicide missionAssignment with fatal certainty
cannon fodder · noble death · self-immolation · kamikaze · ultimate price · gallantry · heroism · valor · devotion · death before dishonor
valor
Courage in danger
intrepid · dauntless · fearlessness · boldness · fortitude · mettle · pluck · nerve · daring · undaunted
despair
Total absence of hope
- last resortFinal available option
- hail maryDesperate long-shot attempt
- gambitRisky opening for advantage
all-or-nothing · do-or-die · last-ditch · final stand · backs to the wall · nothing to lose · against all odds · last gasp · eleventh hour
forlorn hopesure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · safe bet · foregone conclusion · done deal · slam dunk
hope, hopeful, hopeless, forlorn, hopes, hoped, hopefully, hopelessness, forlornly