hapless

/ˈhaplɪs/adjective

Having bad luck in a way that makes people feel sorry for you.

Example sentence

“The hapless tourist lost his passport, his wallet, and then his hotel key, all in one day.”

Invites pity with a smile; a hapless victim is unlucky in an almost comic way. Built on the archaic 'hap', meaning luck, the same root as 'happen' and 'happy'.

Featured as word of the day on June 6, 2026.

Related words

happyFeeling pleasure and contentment; enjoying a sense of well-being, comfort, or joy.handballA team game in which two sides of seven players each throw and bounce a ball, trying to get it into the other team's goal.harangueA long, angry, forceful speech, especially one that criticizes or lectures people.hamperA big basket, often with a lid, used to hold and carry things such as food, laundry, or small animals.harbingerSomething or someone whose arrival is a sign that another thing is coming.hallwayA passage inside a building that leads from one room to another.