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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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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Recent Examples of helpless
While Chris Smith lay helpless, authorities say Tarr was plotting to silence him forever.
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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
According to Orloff, most people on the receiving end of trauma dumping will feel anxious, stressed, helpless and even depressed after the conversation.
—David Oliver, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for helpless 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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Motorcycle Accidents: Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on the road.Chris Gallagher, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
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Some companies have reportedly dealt with safety issues, like bad actors who abuse the model to give harmful advice or prey on vulnerable people.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The intoxicating collab with the Hole lead vocalist came as a pleasant surprise on the LP, as listeners are left floating to space while simultaneously feeling paralyzed and sinking to the depths of the ocean.Michael Saponara, Billboard, 18 Nov. 2024
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Between the lines: Any period of uncertainty could see the country thrust into a time of legal drama, paralyzed governance and overall distrust, as Axios' Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen reported.Adam Tamburin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Notably, losing an hour of daylight can take a toll on people who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that peaks during the darker winter months.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
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Camellias are also susceptible to a number of diseases, the most serious of which are flower blight, root rot, and camellia dieback and canker.Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The new medium setting is the Goldilocks of temperatures—not too hot, not too weak, just voluminous blowout perfection in under 15 minutes.Boutayna Chokrane, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
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In part, cinema closures during the coronavirus pandemic’s various waves contributed to weak box-office returns across the board, regardless of quality or classification.Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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That, combined with a quick Congressional quashing of pending FCC privacy regulations, also left the commission powerless to stop broadband providers from snooping on their customers.Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
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Although that could help stave off rate increases in the short term, over the longer term Florida homeowners and insurers might be powerless as the planet continues to warm.Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Lindsey, the initial lead prosecutor on the Morphew case, testified against Stanley during a two-week disciplinary hearing in June, portraying her as an incompetent and disengaged leader.Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 4 Nov. 2024
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In this light The Favourite, a satire about an incompetent female ruler, is greeted very differently.Nate Jones, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near helpless
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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