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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of helpless
Without oil money, the regime will become helpless.
—
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
So little, so helpless, so good.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Scam reporting is currently fragmented and confusing, leaving victims feeling helpless.
—Caroline Melear, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Americans have gotten used to the idea that our government is helpless to get anything done.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
So little, so helpless, so good.
—Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Scam reporting is currently fragmented and confusing, leaving victims feeling helpless.
—Caroline Melear, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
Americans have gotten used to the idea that our government is helpless to get anything done.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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But Michael warned the new structure is vulnerable to Hamas manipulation, with the group likely to exploit any new setup.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The greatest concern is along the North Carolina Outer Banks and into the Virginia Tidewater region, where strong winds, high surf and beach erosion could lead to overwash and flooding in vulnerable coastal communities.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That 1952 outbreak killed some 3,000 people and left more than 20,000 paralyzed.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
28 Jan. 2026
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Christopher died from cardiac arrest resulting from sepsis at the age of 52 in 2004, nine years after suffering a horseback riding accident and becoming paralyzed from the neck down.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Those that live along the border could die, and, in the long run, populations may be more susceptible to disease and climate change.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Eggplant is also quite susceptible to the cold, so container gardening is a great choice and gives you easy control over temperature.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Trump has directed his ire toward the Department of Labor agency ever since former Commissioner Erika McEntarfer authorized the release of a weak jobs report last summer.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
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Procedures harden, decision paths lengthen, and people wait for permission rather than acting on weak signals from the environment.—
Mark Murphy,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The neighbors gathering, shouting, whistling, screaming for help… help that is a message of love but like all love powerless to prevent the hurt from happening.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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As spectators, we are cursed to be onlookers — powerless to help, despite our desire to.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Oil from free America bailed out the virtue-signaling, totally incompetent Democrats here.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
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That means the former voters died, moved away, registered in another state, were convicted of a felony crime, deemed incompetent to vote by a judge or were removed from the state's voter rolls because of inactivity.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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