lost cause

Speech parts

1. lost cause - Noun

2. lost cause - Phrase

3. Lost cause - Proper noun

Meaning

a defeated cause or a cause for which defeat is inevitable

Source: WordNet

Synonyms

impossible waste of time wild-goose chase forlorn hope dead duck dead person dead man no-hoper wasting time waste of energy sinking ship beating the wind beating a dead horse beating the air flogging a dead horse
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Antonyms

achievement accomplishment advantageous mission encouraging errand encouraging journey hopeful task
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Hypernyms

cause movement campaign effort drive crusade

Examples

The only lost cause is one we give up on before we enter the struggle. Václav Havel

Revolution is an art that I pursue rather than a goal I expect to achieve. Nor is this a source of dismay; a lost cause can be as spiritually satisfying as a victory. Robert A. Heinlein

I was living in New York City and flat broke. My next door neighbor was an actor and he always seemed to be having more fun than I was. He convinced me to give acting a shot, but because of my shyness I was sure it would be a lost cause. Joe Flanigan

Whatever your cause, it's a lost cause without population control. Paul R. Ehrlich

We play a hip-hop song and suddenly 25 people on the left jump up and put their hands in the air; then you play Lost Cause and they're like, I don't know about this one. Beck

In fact, the state rights defense of secession in 1860–1861 did not really appear in force until after 1865 as builders of the Lost Cause myth sought to distance themselves from slavery. William C. Davis (historian)

Words in the phrase

lost cause

Close letter words and terms

lost and gone lost articles lost blood Lost Creek Lost Dakota Lost Decade