as in powerlessness
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Recent Examples of helplessness
For many Venezuelans, the anger is rooted not in abstract politics but in intensely personal experiences of chaos, helplessness and institutional failure.
—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
And to relegate yourself to that inert position so much does, at some level, inspire a certain helplessness in you.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
The earthquakes are among the strongest to hit the South American nation in more than a century, and for Chicagoans with family there, the strongest feeling today is helplessness.
—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
There is a profound helplessness to that forlorn glance that the main broadcast could never capture.
—
Adam Hurrey,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Three hours later, when the team recognized the severity of the extravasation injury, professional awareness gave way to primal helplessness.
—
Nisha Narayanan,
STAT,
5 June 2026
Linda wields her absolute power over Bradley like a cudgel, exploiting his helplessness to emotionally abuse and manipulate him.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
The giant numbers on gas station signs become daily reminders of economic pressure, creating feelings of helplessness and financial insecurity, even among middle-income workers.
—
Bybryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
There is a sort of helplessness that comes with being a trainer on race day.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
And to relegate yourself to that inert position so much does, at some level, inspire a certain helplessness in you.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
The earthquakes are among the strongest to hit the South American nation in more than a century, and for Chicagoans with family there, the strongest feeling today is helplessness.
—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
25 June 2026
There is a profound helplessness to that forlorn glance that the main broadcast could never capture.
—
Adam Hurrey,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Three hours later, when the team recognized the severity of the extravasation injury, professional awareness gave way to primal helplessness.
—
Nisha Narayanan,
STAT,
5 June 2026
Linda wields her absolute power over Bradley like a cudgel, exploiting his helplessness to emotionally abuse and manipulate him.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
The giant numbers on gas station signs become daily reminders of economic pressure, creating feelings of helplessness and financial insecurity, even among middle-income workers.
—
Bybryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
There is a sort of helplessness that comes with being a trainer on race day.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helplessness
Noun
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This sense of powerlessness, too, is a genuine aspect of a poet’s reality.
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As far as going through life’s grand stages is concerned, this has been a double-whammy of pain and powerlessness.
Noun
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Fears have mounted that increasingly powerful AI models could be a boon for cybercriminals hunting for software vulnerabilities, but many administration allies are wary of government regulation of the industry.
-
The attacks are forcing Moscow to manage visible problems at home, exposing a vulnerability in a country whose global power has long rested on its energy sector.
Noun
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Overwatering, especially in poor-draining soils, can lead to root rot, fungal infections, and increased susceptibility to pests.
-
This means that a job’s susceptibility to AI replacement depends, in part, on how easily the clean tasks can be cleaved off from the messy ones.
Cite this Entry
“Helplessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helplessness. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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