no-hopers
Destined to fail
No-hopers are people considered to have no chance of success—losers, failures, or those written off as hopeless cases.
The term is primarily British and Australian: The team was a bunch of no-hopers who couldn't win a match.
It carries dismissive contempt, suggesting someone isn't worth betting on or investing in.
Unsuccessful competitors
- deadbeatsPeople who evade debts
- washoutsComplete failures or busts
- dudsClothes or failures
- flopsUnsuccessful ventures or releases
incompetent · inept · unsuccessful · ineffective · incapable · unqualified · unskilled · mediocre
Unlikely to succeed
- dark-horseUnlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- underratedValued below true worth
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
unfancied · disadvantaged · struggler · underestimated · rank outsider · outside chance · against the odds
Dismiss as unsuitable
- castoffDiscarded item or person
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
- outcastShunned, rejected person
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
pariah · undesirable · expendable · throwaway · forgotten · overlooked · discarded · marginalized
Utter loss of hope
- despondentDeeply discouraged, hopeless
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- demoralizedStripped of confidence
- forlornSad and abandoned
resigned · dejected · dispirited · disheartened · discouraged · wretched · downcast · crestfallen
losers
Unsuccessful competitors
flops · incompetent · inept · unsuccessful · ineffective · incapable · unqualified · unskilled · mediocre · lackluster
longshot
Unlikely to succeed
- dark-horseUnlikely but possible winner
- outsiderOne excluded from group
- underratedValued below true worth
overlooked · unfancied · disadvantaged · struggler · underestimated · rank outsider · outside chance · against the odds
reject
Dismiss as unsuitable
untouchable · pariah · undesirable · expendable · throwaway · forgotten · overlooked · discarded · marginalized · sidelined
desperation
Utter loss of hope
- despondentDeeply discouraged, hopeless
- defeatedOvercome in contest
- demoralizedStripped of confidence
forlorn · resigned · dejected · dispirited · disheartened · discouraged · wretched · downcast · crestfallen · broken
no-hopersrising stars
Emerging promising talents
sure things · high-flyers · winners · front-runners · go-getters
no-hoperssuccess stories
Accounts of achievement
champions · top dogs · big shots · movers and shakers · A-listers
no-hoper, hope, hopes, hoped, hoping, hopeful, hopefully, hopefulness, hopeless