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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of helpless
Although the new Onyx Collective comedy focuses on Pakistani American brothers Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Saagar Shaikh), the duo would be completely helpless without Lucky, played by Poorna Jagannathan.
—
Joe Otterson, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
Ruggiero, 28, knows some of her clients are scared, feeling helpless and hopeless.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Joe Otterson, Variety, 8 Mar. 2025
Ruggiero, 28, knows some of her clients are scared, feeling helpless and hopeless.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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Saving currently endangered species A number of experts say that bringing back extinct animals will not solve any conservation problems and that efforts would be better spent trying to find ways to save current critically endangered or vulnerable species.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2025
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There are several factors behind what makes a region particularly sneezy and vulnerable to certain allergens.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Allen survived but was left permanently paralyzed, according to police.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2025
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According to the release, any savings from ending this type of care will go to supporting paralyzed veterans and amputees.—
Jaden Amos,
Axios,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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In recent years, the number of satellite launches has increased, resulting in thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit that are susceptible to cyberattacks.—
Chuck Brooks,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo are all susceptible to the same suite of soil pathogens.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Williams nails the paradox at the center of the show: As Molly’s body grows weaker, her self-possession grows stronger.—
Margaret Lyons,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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However, this same quantum state sensitivity makes these atoms ideal for detecting extremely weak signals.—
Paul Lipman,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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The mayor is powerless—the order’s from above, the money from elsewhere.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The police department’s insufficient and incompetent investigation cannot stand.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
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After almost a year of being declared incompetent, her trial began in April 2023.—
Miguel Torres,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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