Hapless ones (4)
I believe the answer is:
saps
'hapless ones' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for saps that I've seen before include "Enervates in spas" , "Depletes the the strength of fools" , "Weakens, undermines" , "Coshes" , "trenches" .)