German word

chancenlos

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃɑ̃ːsn̩ˌloːs/

Meaning

  • adjectivewithout a chance

Example

Wir sind chancenlos gegen dieses Team.

We have no chance against this team.

Illustration for chancenlos (without a chance)

More examples

Im Pokal waren die Amateure praktisch chancenlos.

In the cup, the amateurs were virtually without a chance.

Core concept

Every path to a successful result is blocked before the contest is decided.

Common phrases

  • praktisch chancenlos

    virtually without a chance

  • als chancenlos abgestempelt werden

    be labeled as having no chance

  • gegen starke Gegner chancenlos sein

    be without a chance against strong opponents

Similar words

aussichtslos: Offering no prospect of success or victory.
hoffnungslos: Leaving no hope that the situation will improve.
unterlegen: Weaker than an opponent and unlikely to win.
machtlos: Lacking the power or means to influence the situation.

Definition in German

so beschaffen, dass kein Erfolg zu erwarten ist; nicht konkurrenzfähig

Word origin

The adjective is formed from Chance, a German borrowing meaning chance or opportunity, and the native German suffix -los, meaning without.

Usage tips

  • Chancenlos is lowercase as an adjective and takes regular adjective endings before nouns, as in eine chancenlose Mannschaft.

Other meanings

  • hopelessadjective
  • outmatchedadjective

Opposites

  • aussichtsreichpromisingadjective
  • chancenreichhaving good chancesadjective

Related words

  • Chancenlosigkeitlack of a chancenoun

Word lists with this word