Identify the synonym of 'Hapless':
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Unfortunate
Explanation
The question asks to identify the correct synonym for the word 'Hapless'. To solve vocabulary questions efficiently on competitive exams, you can break down the word using its historical linguistic roots.
The word hapless is made of two parts: the archaic root word hap (which means "luck", "chance", or "fortune") and the common suffix -less (which means "without"). Therefore, someone who is hapless is literally "without luck"—meaning they are constantly plagued by bad luck, ill-fated, or miserable.
Let's look at why the other options do not match:
Lucky is the exact opposite (antonym) of hapless.
Unfortunate perfectly matches the definition of being unlucky or having bad luck, making it the correct synonym.
Fortunate is another direct antonym, meaning blessed with good luck.
Content describes a mental state of being satisfied or happy with what one has, which does not relate to luck or external fortune.
Because "unfortunate" shares the exact definition of lacking good luck, Option 2 is the correct choice.
Key Points
The old root word "hap" is also the foundation for several other common English words relating to chance, including happen (to occur by chance), haphazard (dependent on mere chance), and mishap (an unlucky accident).
Identifying vocabulary words with negative suffixes like "-less" can help you quickly eliminate positive choices like "lucky" or "fortunate" during an exam.