lost cause

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.

The upset victories thrilled Southern California’s Latino political class, who long saw Whittier as a Republican-run lost cause.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Eileen McGovern, a member of SOAS, said returning "life-saving" emergency general surgery services to Swah is not a lost cause.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

They were comfortable confiding in one another to the point of calling the war “already a lost cause for Germany,” as Kiep put it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

If you were considered a lost cause, how were you able to make such a surprising comeback?

From Slate • Nov. 19, 2025

This looked like a lost cause, and I was real ready to go.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck