1
as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
after the storm we found a helpless baby bird that had fallen out of its nest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in paralyzed
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
we watched, feeling helpless, as the vase slipped from her hand and crashed to the floor
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of helpless
Gustavsson was equally helpless against Brad Marchand later in the first.
—
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The whole team will come out looking as helpless as Jake Gyllenhaal.
—Tim Cowlishaw The Dallas Morning News, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Amid the devastation that unfolded in those first 48 hours, Karly and Frank, like many Angelenos, felt helpless, frightened, and desperate to help.
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 31 Jan. 2025
The beatings continued even as victims were helpless on the ground, the video shows.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
The whole team will come out looking as helpless as Jake Gyllenhaal.
—Tim Cowlishaw The Dallas Morning News, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Amid the devastation that unfolded in those first 48 hours, Karly and Frank, like many Angelenos, felt helpless, frightened, and desperate to help.
—Kate Lavelle, Glamour, 31 Jan. 2025
The beatings continued even as victims were helpless on the ground, the video shows.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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Zelensky has expressed fear that Trump pushing a quick resolution would result in Ukraine losing territory and being left vulnerable to future Russian aggression.—
Justin Spike and Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2025
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Arsenal lacked urgency in possession, and were uncharacteristically vulnerable in defence.—
James McNicholas,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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John Lithgow plays an elderly care home tyrant out to drive an arrogant and partially paralyzed judge, played by Geoffrey Rush, insane in the official trailer for The Rule of Jenny Pen, which dropped Monday.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
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The cousin also was hit with gunfire and became paralyzed, prosecutors said.—
Sara Schilling,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Pros: Flower buds are not susceptible to winter damage.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2025
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That killed even more prairie dogs and ferrets, both of which are highly susceptible to the disease.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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By late this evening, the winds will be significantly weaker.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
27 Feb. 2025
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Salesforce shares fell in extended trading Wednesday on mixed quarterly results and weak guidance.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Put simply: individual officers were powerless against the System.—
Marc J. Dunkelman,
TIME,
27 Feb. 2025
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But the lack of consistent messaging has left many everyday Democrats across the country feeling angry and powerless, the New York Times reported over the weekend.—
Jessica Boehm,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Anyone can file a petition in probate court in Florida seeking to declare an adult incompetent to handle their own affairs, though, typically, such petitions are submitted by family members worried their elderly relatives can no longer care for themselves.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2025
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But Marshall can’t do it alone and teams up with his former high school lab partner Frances Applewhite (voiced by Emily Pendergast), who works for a sinking pharmaceutical company as the assistant to incompetent CEO Rick Kruger (voiced by executive producer Mike Judge).—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
3 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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