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
Relevance
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
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 helpless
An Oklahoma fire department is celebrating a win after rescuing a helpless animal that found itself in a dangerous — and unsanitary — situation.
—
Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2025
But most unforgettable are the fantastic driving sequences and the almost casually riveting performances — with James Taylor making for a perfectly intense (and surprisingly charismatic) lead, an ideal foil for the garrulous, slightly helpless Oates.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
The emotional emptiness can feel unbearable, and the practical demands only add to the turmoil, often leaving the surviving spouse feeling lost and helpless.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Outside, helpless to stop them, someone pulled up and simply leaned on his horn.
—Emily Witt, New Yorker, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2025
But most unforgettable are the fantastic driving sequences and the almost casually riveting performances — with James Taylor making for a perfectly intense (and surprisingly charismatic) lead, an ideal foil for the garrulous, slightly helpless Oates.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 June 2025
The emotional emptiness can feel unbearable, and the practical demands only add to the turmoil, often leaving the surviving spouse feeling lost and helpless.
—David Kudla, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Outside, helpless to stop them, someone pulled up and simply leaned on his horn.
—Emily Witt, New Yorker, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
-
Many experts said the ruling could harm the country's most vulnerable children.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
-
How Did James Gunn Reboot Superman For A Modern Audience? From the very first scene, Gunn depicts Superman (David Corenswet) as vulnerable, having lost a fight for the first time.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
In 1995, Reeve suffered a spinal injury in a horse riding accident and became paralyzed from the neck down.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
11 July 2025
-
The Teddy Pendergrass thing [his first performance since a 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down] was overwhelming, very emotional.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
This results in long, deep wounds in the surrounding flesh that are also susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, causing severe pain, and potentially death if left untreated.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
-
Being able to track this is super helpful because male cats are more susceptible to UTIs, which can be potentially life-threatening.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
But Democrats see Earle-Sears as a far weaker candidate than Youngkin, operating a worse environment for the GOP.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert explained that conspiratorial thinking usually spikes during moments of collective fear and uncertainty, especially during weather events in which people feel powerless.—
Pilar Melendez,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
-
Why workers aren’t powerless Not all AI oversight is negative.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Mestre’s indictment comes after he was initially deemed incompetent to stand trial by a judge in April.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
13 July 2025
-
Employees may view them as entitled or incompetent, regardless of their true abilities.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share