Speed affected speed - hopeless (9)
I believe the answer is:
desperate
'hopeless' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'speed affected speed' is the wordplay.
'affected' is an anagram indicator.
'speed' becomes 'rate' (the speed at which something happens).
'speed' anagrammed gives 'despe'.
'despe'+'rate'='DESPERATE'
(Other definitions for desperate that I've seen before include "Feeling hopeless" , "Extremely bad or serious" , "Extremely dangerous (situation)" , "Miserable" , "Anguished" .)