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
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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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Recent Examples of helpless
This weather murders soldiers in body armor, laborers in farm fields, panhandlers on the street, grandma and grandpa, the helpless, the trapped, whoever.
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Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
While Chris Smith lay helpless, authorities say Tarr was plotting to silence him forever.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
This creates a helpless but highly effective kind of suspense, as Iris must rely on her tormentor to mess up, at least until her limbs start to respond again.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024
Nandor is mostly just helpless without Guillermo and needs to be close to him — a bit like a puppy, to continue the animal metaphor.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for helpless 
Outside Online, 23 Oct. 2024
While Chris Smith lay helpless, authorities say Tarr was plotting to silence him forever.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2024
This creates a helpless but highly effective kind of suspense, as Iris must rely on her tormentor to mess up, at least until her limbs start to respond again.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024
Nandor is mostly just helpless without Guillermo and needs to be close to him — a bit like a puppy, to continue the animal metaphor.
—Katie Rife, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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For this reason, people naturally gravitate toward people who are vulnerable.Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
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Johnson wants to change the mindset that only LGBT folks are vulnerable.Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Despite the prime minister’s assurances, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a U.N. official said the government remains paralyzed.Sarah el Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
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There was the woman who came to every meeting combative and quick-tempered (fight), the one who broke down in tears at every one-on-one and eventually took extended leave (flight), and the one who seemed paralyzed by the sheer volume of work (freeze).Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Kreskin acknowledged to radio personality Art Bell that his prediction was a hoax, a way of proving that the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks the year before had made people susceptible to manipulation.Stephanie Giang-Paunon, Fox News, 11 Dec. 2024
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Indeed, teen drivers are especially susceptible to getting into crashes resulting from distracted driving.Ed Garsten, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Capasa noted that a negative third quarter impacted by weak internal demand, the slowdown of purchases from Chinese customers and overall geopolitical instability kept worsening the cautious scenario already registered in the first half of the year.Sandra Salibian, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
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Scene-to-scene continuity is typically weak and telling.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The defense was powerless to stop a 49ers team struggling with injuries.Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 11 Dec. 2024
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The people recounting their months of powerless standing were the very top aides to the current President, and his predecessor, who is soon to also be his successor.Philip Elliott, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The case was suspended earlier this year because the aging McCarrick was deemed incompetent to stand for trial.Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024
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Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is saying that women are incompetent and that their presence in the military causes love triangles and drama.Tonya Mosley, NPR, 25 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near helpless
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
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