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
Still helpless in the face of her new, ultrapublic life, and at a loss for how to re-center herself and her needs and wants within it, Carolyn has been spending most of her time in the loft.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
That gave the last four minutes of the third quarter and the 36-27 fourth quarter a bit of a helpless feeling.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Jones was stranded on an island of his own making Saturday, exasperated by another difficult game-winning shot that his wingspan was somehow helpless to affect on its own.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
But with Tuscany and Lombardy quiet and their hopes of help from France disappointed, the revolutionary governments that were set up proved helpless.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
That gave the last four minutes of the third quarter and the 36-27 fourth quarter a bit of a helpless feeling.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
In the meantime, Jones was stranded on an island of his own making Saturday, exasperated by another difficult game-winning shot that his wingspan was somehow helpless to affect on its own.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
But with Tuscany and Lombardy quiet and their hopes of help from France disappointed, the revolutionary governments that were set up proved helpless.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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On his goal, Thomas swooped into the middle lane to dust McTavish and receive a slick feed from Broberg that sent him toward a vulnerable Dostál with speed for a rising shot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
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But the memo indicates homelessness spending might not be as vulnerable to cuts as other programs because the city now has roughly $33 million in hotel tax revenue to spend each year on homelessness.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Carey died while trying to rescue a paralyzed elderly man from a house fire.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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China’s leadership has appeared even more paralyzed over the country’s mounting economic woes.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Tomato, pepper, eggplant and tomatillo are all susceptible to the same soil pathogens.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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For example, research shows that adolescent boys are more susceptible to pressure for risk-taking behaviors than girls.—
Amy Morin,
Parents,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The slide appears to have involved a thick slab of soft snow breaking loose at a weak layer in the snowpack, the report said.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
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Endowed not only with a privileged birthright but—unlike the actual princes over in England, who had weak chins and went bald young—the physical stature to match?—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Beacon Hill is not powerless — our legislative leaders control the agenda, the budget, and the levers of state power.—
Matt Chilliak,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Hybrid attacks are a cocktail of destabilization and deniability, unsettling populations and creating an impression of a strong aggressor and a powerless target.—
Liam Denning,
Bloomberg,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Across the state in 2025, only five people faced Class 1 or Class 2 felonies, were found permanently incompetent to proceed, and saw their cases dismissed, Turner said.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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If the case takes the course prescribed under the Texas criminal procedure code and if a magistrate or a state district judge finds that Rodriguez-Singh is incompetent, she will likely be ordered admitted to a maximum-security unit at a state hospital for an attempt at competency restoration.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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