HIGH AND DRY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

high and dry

adjective

Definition of high and dry

as in helpless

unable to act or achieve one's purpose the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of high and dry If everything goes to plan — and with no relief from the weather — Flaming Gorge will fall by as much as 27 feet (8 meters) a year from now, leaving Buckboard Marina even more high and dry. — ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Mel is likely mad at the lawyers running her depositions, and her sister for leaving her high and dry on the Fourth of July. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026 When her professor, predictably, leaves her high and dry, Margo drops out of college and makes an OnlyFans account as a last ditch effort to get some quick cash. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026 And your card perks can step in when an airline leaves you high and dry during a delay. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high and dry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for high and dry

Adjective

But passengers don’t have to be helpless during these stressful ordeals.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Technology can erode privacy, concentrate power, damage the environment, and leave people feeling helpless.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

This process can be even more pronounced in smaller galaxies in which the gravitational influence is weaker, and the black holes are less likely to be strongly bound to the galactic center.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Takaichi’s spending plans have drawn attention, raising concerns of debt sustainability and a weaker yen which have pushed Japanese bond yields to multidecade highs.

— Chloe Taylor,Lee Ying Shan,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

In the memo, which was filed under seal in support of a prior motion to disqualify the judge, Rauch described his goal as not to show that Kohberger was incompetent, but to bolster his argument that the judge may be biased.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
If he were found incompetent, he would have been sent to a treatment facility until he could be reevaluated.

— Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of incompetent

Browse Nearby Words

high

high and dry

high and low

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“High and dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high%20and%20dry. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of high and dry

adjective

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