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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defenseless
Adjective
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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 -
As a retailer known for selling discretionary items, Target has been vulnerable to high inflation and economic uncertainty.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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Hosts aren’t totally helpless in the face of these wasps.—
Avery Hurt,
Discover Magazine,
14 July 2025
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Granted, Jess is helpless, and in classic Lena Dunham fashion, more than a bit of this episode is dedicated to showing off her flaws.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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People with diabetes have trouble regulating blood sugar and may be more susceptible to orange juice raising blood sugar, which is why they are often counseled to avoid orange juice.11 However, studies on this subject are contradictory.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
22 July 2025
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Microgravity, radiation, confinement and a change in sleep-wake cycles and can exert pressure on cells, driving lower immune systems and making astronauts more susceptible to being sick during or after missions.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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And Easterwood estimates that the majority of paint horses, left unprotected, will eventually develop skin issues.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
21 July 2025
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Surface corrosion on unprotected components will vary with age and exposure.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
20 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Defenseless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defenseless. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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