helpless

adjective

help·​less ˈhel-pləs 

 Southern often  ˈhep-ləs,

 also  ˈheəp-

1

: lacking protection or support : defenseless

as helpless as a flock of shepherdless sheep

—W. H. Mallock

2

a

: marked by an inability to act or react

the crowd looked on in helpless horror

—Current Biography

b

: not able to be controlled or restrained

helpless laughter

helplessly adverb

helplessness noun

Synonyms

• defenseless
• exposed
• susceptible
• undefended
• unguarded
• unprotected
• unresistant
• vulnerable

Examples of helpless in a Sentence

The civilians were helpless against their attackers.

Firefighters were helpless against the blaze.

I feel helpless. Isn't there anything I can do?

The crowd was helpless with laughter.

He was helpless with rage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bailey's predicament isn't the first time a dog has found itself in an amusingly helpless situation. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

The Flames’ penalty kill was the NHL’s best in March before Monday (95.5 percent), but the Maple Leafs made the group look helpless with one goal from William Nylander and two by Matthews. —Nick Ashbourne, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025

There, the helpless pup was spotted by the heat-seeking imaging camera. —Allison Moses, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025

One cold winter day, walking along an unpaved track, Dalton comes upon a newborn hare – a leveret – lying helpless on a grass strip. —Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see help entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

helpless

adjective

help·​less ˈhel-pləs 

1

: being without defense

2

: powerless

helplessly adverb

helplessness noun