HAP-liss
(adjective) Unfortunate or unlucky.
The hapless tourist kept losing his belongings in every city he visited.
Fun Fact
Derived from the word “hap” meaning “luck” or “chance,” hapless appears frequently in novels, often to describe characters we’re meant to pity. Think of sitcom underdogs or tragic figures who just can’t catch a break.
dawg-MAT-ik
(adjective) Asserting opinions or beliefs in an arrogant, rigid, and often unyielding way.
His dogmatic approach left no room for compromise or alternative ideas.
Mid 17th century: from late Latin dogmaticus, from Greek dogmatikos, from dogma ‘opinion, tenet’.
Fun Fact
Dogmatic is often used in politics, academia, or religion—anywhere someone clings to a belief system so tightly that opposing views are dismissed outright. It doesn’t necessarily mean the belief is wrong—just that it’s inflexibly held. In leadership or conversation, being called dogmatic is rarely a compliment; it suggests stubborn conviction without curiosity or tolerance.