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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of helpless
Up until the issuing of the judge’s temporary restraining order, many of its opponents described feeling helpless about a project that, in their eyes, had an air of inevitability.
—
Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 1 June 2026
Rebellions were common and pitted spoiled students against helpless teachers.
—Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Djokovic was helpless when another forehand winner flew past him to set up a break point in the next game.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Marine Rousseau, 41, was taken into custody Thursday with Marc Ballabriga, 55, two days after the couple allegedly dumped her helpless 3- and 5-year-old children in a remote forest and left, according to Portuguese and French media.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Matthew Stolle, Twin Cities, 1 June 2026
Rebellions were common and pitted spoiled students against helpless teachers.
—Thomas Adam, The Conversation, 29 May 2026
Djokovic was helpless when another forehand winner flew past him to set up a break point in the next game.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Marine Rousseau, 41, was taken into custody Thursday with Marc Ballabriga, 55, two days after the couple allegedly dumped her helpless 3- and 5-year-old children in a remote forest and left, according to Portuguese and French media.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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Wildfire resiliency advocates are warning that the loss of these funds will leave the state vulnerable to devastation, and are calling on California’s next governor to take that threat seriously.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
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Why are school lunches still vulnerable to industry pressure?—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Hollywood on a bad day is paralyzed, absolutely paralyzed, and incapable of making new decisions.—
Benjamin VanHoose,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
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One of the bullets hit the teen’s spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, his mother said.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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Yuzu is also susceptible to fungal diseases, such as root rot.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
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But gorillas are thought to be very susceptible to Ebola -– by some estimates 98% of gorillas who get Ebola die from the virus and it's already reduced the global gorilla population by approximately one-third.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 June 2026
Adjective
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As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Feeling powerless driving a CATS bus At times, drivers work on high alert, unsure whether passengers who are threatening them will get physical, the former bus drivers said.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
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Trump will do his utmost to remind them of their painful and powerless present.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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But the reason is not as simple as an incompetent training staff.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
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There should be no place in our politics for incompetent, opportunistic operatives who violate privacy, betray trust, and prioritize vengeance over decency.—
Jared Kofsky,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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