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hapless

[hap-lis] / ˈhæp lɪs /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His job was to erase decades of misery for the NBA’s most hapless franchise—a 21st century in which the Knicks had piled up 16 losing seasons and just one measly playoff series win.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

And once the Browns drafted quarterback Baker Mayfield following a winless 2017 season, they finally seemed to have the type of promising young core that could rescue the hapless franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Bernthal, who plays Sonny, has his own wayward machismo and hapless sensitivity, the very qualities that made Al Pacino unforgettable in the role of the bungling bandit with a Catholic conscience.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

German media have broadcast the hapless creature lying motionless in shallow water for hours on end, with men in diving suits splashing water on it using kayak paddles.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

And oh! where meantime was the hapless owner of this wreck?

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë




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