as in vulnerable
lacking protection from danger or resistance against attack
the lack of warm clothing left the hikers defenseless against the unexpected cold snap
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Recent Examples of defenseless
The challenge is finding treatments that calm unhealthy levels of inflammation without leaving the body defenseless against infections.
—
William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Otherwise, the lives of thousands of defenseless animals will continue to suffer and die.
—Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Arkansas gained 333 yards and gave up 301 yards in a defenseless first half.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
To deny it is to leave Americans defenseless against it.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
But even this nod to forgiveness is relatively punishing, since the health refill freezes your character in a defenseless pose for a few seconds.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
Daniel, defenseless, falls for it completely.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Contributor Aggressive creditors and collectors often push people to the brink and most large debt relief companies end up leaving most consumers defenseless against debt lawsuits.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Though authorities noted the suspect expressed widespread hatred and wanted to target defenseless children in particular.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2025
William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Otherwise, the lives of thousands of defenseless animals will continue to suffer and die.
—Michael Wagner, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Arkansas gained 333 yards and gave up 301 yards in a defenseless first half.
—Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
To deny it is to leave Americans defenseless against it.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
But even this nod to forgiveness is relatively punishing, since the health refill freezes your character in a defenseless pose for a few seconds.
—ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2025
Daniel, defenseless, falls for it completely.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Contributor Aggressive creditors and collectors often push people to the brink and most large debt relief companies end up leaving most consumers defenseless against debt lawsuits.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Though authorities noted the suspect expressed widespread hatred and wanted to target defenseless children in particular.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenseless
Adjective
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Crops such as rice and soybeans are also vulnerable as excessive UV-B can reduce yields and threaten food security.—
Dianne Plummer,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement This granular knowledge and deep curiosity is also what drives Speer’s long-standing dedication to protecting the vast, vulnerable open ocean and deep-sea environments that lie outside of national borders and hold some of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity on earth.—
Bonnie Tsui,
Time,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And wasn’t the world hard enough, without having to care for helpless children too?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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In the midst of feeling helpless, Kate said an idea took shape to commemorate the victims.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The largest member of the grass family, bamboo is combustible, susceptible to deterioration and weaker in rain, raising legitimate questions about its durability, Arup’s Ho said.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
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Those are straightforward power rushes designed to contain mobile quarterbacks rather than spamming exotic pressure looks that could leave the defensive line susceptible to holes.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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No little boy or girl should feel unsafe or unprotected while changing in school.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defenseless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenseless. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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