Is there a word in English that describes a person who never attains a desire or goal?
I have found loser or dud or flop but these all seem to be informal, is there a better, more formal word that describes such a thing?
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Does it make any difference whether the goal isn't achieved because the "unsatisfied aspirant" simply doesn't have the ability to succeed (i.e. - is "unrealistic"), as opposed to because he doesn't make the necessary effort (i.e. - is "lazy")?– FumbleFingersCommented Jun 30, 2015 at 16:00
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1You ask for "who never ...", which is different from asking "who couldn't ...", but the answers to this question might help.– Papa PouleCommented Jun 30, 2015 at 16:05
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Many “losers” actually achieve (and surpass) all the easy goals they set for themselves. “Perfectionists,” on the other hand, are rarely totally satisfied with their efforts and sometimes never fully reach their unrealistically high goals. Then there are “atychiphobics ” who, driven by their extreme fear of failure often set unrealistically high goals in order to give themselves ‘valid’ excuses for never obtaining them.– Papa PouleCommented Jun 30, 2015 at 16:44
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1incompetent: not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully.– SunCommented Jun 30, 2015 at 19:37
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I am thinking of a person who tries but still does not achieve the desire or goal. In a sense what we might call as unlucky.– Prakash KCommented Jul 1, 2015 at 6:44
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5 Answers
If you're willing to use an eponym, consider referring to the person as "a Sisyphus." Here is the entry for Sisyphus in Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary (2003):
Sisyphus (14c) : a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeat the cycle of rolling a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top
This noun has yielded the adjective Sisyphean, as well, meaning, according to the Eleventh Collegiate:
of, relating to, or suggestive of the labors of Sisyphus
The crucial characteristic of a Sisyphus is the person's inability to successfully complete a specified task (albeit, in the original Sisyphus's case, an impossible task imposed on him as a punishment for misdeeds in life). A Google Books search for "a Sisyphus" turns up examples like this one from Transactions of the National Safety Congress (1927):
The construction safety engineer cannot be a Sisyphus.
Sisyphus was the chap that was always falling down at the moment of supreme success. He could never get over the top.
And this one from Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy (2015):
A workoholic is a Sisyphus endlessly pushing a stone uphill and beginning again when it rolls down. He is now engaged in pushing the stone uphill and then chasing it when it rolls down and then beginning to push it up again.
answered Jun 30, 2015 at 18:08
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This seems to be close to what I expect. But will wait. Thanks! Commented Jul 1, 2015 at 6:44
How about "underachiever"?
underachieve verb, intrans to be less successful than expected, especially academically; to fail to fulfil one's potential. underachievement noun. underachiever noun.
If you're referring to someone who never attains their desires or goals then you might describe them as "a perennial underachiever".
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Apt term, but block quotes are reserved for direct quotations, which require source attribution. Please edit your source into this otherwise good answer, so I can up-vote.– user98990Commented Jun 30, 2015 at 20:45
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@Little Eva: The initial "underachiever" is linking out to the Chambers definition I quoted. I've added a more explicit link too, as requested.– LukeHCommented Jul 1, 2015 at 9:37
If you're looking for someone that does not care about attaining goals, you might be looking for apathetic:
having little or no interest or concern --Merriam-Webster
Similarly, they might be unmotivated:
not having interest in or enthusiasm for something, especially work or study --Google
They might also be referred to as lackadaisical:
lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy --Google
On the other hand, if you're looking for someone that cannot seem to obtain goals despite effort, the cause of the failure would probably have a name, such as unlucky (bad luck, poor circumstances), unskilled (lacking proper skills for a task, usually meaning unfit for employment in skilled labor), or unfit (not suited for a particular purpose), or a myriad of other words.
The term loser, and dud, are definitely informal when used in that context, and should be avoided unless you're intentionally trying to be offensive. A flop is a more formal term, but has a very limited context, mostly in the entertainment industry, to describe a performance or entertainer that has performed horribly-- it has nothing to do with achieving goals or motivation, but rather uninspired acting or poor execution.
What about "an underachiever"?
- Someone who always fails to reach their full potential. Often used in reference to students and athletes.
Definitions:
e.g.
- I wouldn't call your son dumb but take a look at his grades: he has been an underachiever, Mrs Taylor.
- When I had three questions put on hold on the same day, I felt like an underachiever.
answered Jun 30, 2015 at 16:11
You could try "nonperformer": (noun) a person who does not succeed.
