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
Court records in Orange County show Tillman has at least four felony cases going back to 2021, with convictions including robbery and the violent battery of a defenseless victim.
—
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Chargers have been defenseless in their past three games, losing two of three.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Their law firm is changing the game for traditional debt settlement services in an industry known for empty promises and leaving people defenseless during debt lawsuits.
—William Jones, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Chargers have been defenseless in their past three games, losing two of three.
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 20 Oct. 2025
Their law firm is changing the game for traditional debt settlement services in an industry known for empty promises and leaving people defenseless during debt lawsuits.
—William Jones, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenseless
Adjective
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This makes West Antarctica’s ice sheet the most vulnerable to collapse.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
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Factory owners expressed their dismay on social media, noting that while workplace safety had improved significantly over the past decade, unregulated factories remained vulnerable.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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At first, the doctor’s sympathies would be with the family, who seemed helpless given their lack of autonomy and the dictates of their circumstances.—
Ayşegül Savaş,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
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Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, of Charlotte, is also charged with contaminating food or drink to render one mentally incapacitated or physically helpless; stalking; and damage to property.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Unsurprisingly, people who live farther north are more susceptible than their southern counterparts because of the shorter daylight hours—so folks in Alaska and New Hampshire would statistically be at higher risk than their counterparts in Texas or Florida, say.—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 Oct. 2025
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Some light fabrics are especially susceptible to staining from the minerals in water.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The moral of its story is that becoming a stereotype can lead to someone’s demise, especially for Black women who are left vulnerable and unprotected when their community falls apart.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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Patterson said residents should take steps to protect sensitive plants and unprotected outdoor plumbing as temperatures drop.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defenseless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenseless. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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