defenseless

adjective

Definition of defenselessnext
as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack the lack of warm clothing left the hikers defenseless against the unexpected cold snap

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenseless
  1. vulnerable
  2. helpless
  3. susceptible
  4. unprotected
Adjective
  • Even the most reliable income streams are vulnerable to external factors beyond your control.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Vietnamese delicacy vulnerable to overfishing In recent years, other Bathynomus species, such as B. jamesi, have become a delicacy in Vietnam, with their flesh often compared to that of lobster, according to the study.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of vulnerable
Adjective
  • The wind is bending thick swirls of flame over Sunset Boulevard and the firefighters are helpless to stop it.
    Matt Gutman, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Buster the yellow Lab is a thicc fella who can stop, but will not stop, gleefully belly flopping into his swimming pool despite the increasingly helpless and desperately profane protestations of his mother.
    Julie Klausner, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of helpless
Adjective
  • Consequently, consumers endure the worst of both worlds: a commodity that is susceptible to rapid price increases, lacking the infrastructure to reduce prices during periods of overproduction, all while relying on an emissions-intensive delivery system.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Injuries happen in the NHL all the time, but some roles and positions are more susceptible to them.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of susceptible
Adjective
  • Never store passwords in an unprotected digital document on your computer (no Google docs), and consider only storing your crypto seed phrases with pen and paper in a safe or locked box at home.
    Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025
  • As the drones streamed video, the 19-ton Stryker accelerated across the field, turning sharply to line up on Russian soldiers caught unprotected in the snow.
    David Axe, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of unprotected
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near defenseless

defense

defenseless

defenselessness

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Defenseless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenseless. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on defenseless

Nglish: Translation of defenseless for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of defenseless for Arabic Speakers

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