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
Schools, though, aren’t helpless.
—
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Overall, Joseph’s defense generated five turnovers but looked often helpless against James Cook on the ground (24 carries for 117 yards) or Kincaid (six catches for 83 yards and a score).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
Parents remain helpless between the clutching fear and unavoidable inaction.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Without oil money, the regime will become helpless.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Overall, Joseph’s defense generated five turnovers but looked often helpless against James Cook on the ground (24 carries for 117 yards) or Kincaid (six catches for 83 yards and a score).
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 19 Jan. 2026
Parents remain helpless between the clutching fear and unavoidable inaction.
—William Jones, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
Without oil money, the regime will become helpless.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helpless
Adjective
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Tech is vulnerable to a sell-off The AI theme has driven the stock market higher across the past three years.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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To make this mulch, crush broken terracotta pieces into smaller chunky shards and scatter them around snail and slug-vulnerable plants, including lettuces, hostas, or strawberries.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Parents reorganizing their lives around a paralyzed son made complete sense to me.—
Coley Gallagher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
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Cuba’s sugar industry is nearly paralyzed because there is no diesel for the tractors and trucks needed to harvest and transport cane to the mills.—
Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Teens are more prone to act on emotion, more susceptible to peer pressure and often less able to consider long-term consequences.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Certain medical conditions and factors like age can also make people more susceptible to the cold.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Defense lawyers contend these cases should never have been brought, with weak evidence that juries consistently reject, prompting legal experts to question the prosecution strategy.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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But some indications suggest that the jobs report could come in weaker than expected.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Has Howe ever felt so powerless on the touchline?—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The neighbors gathering, shouting, whistling, screaming for help… help that is a message of love but like all love powerless to prevent the hurt from happening.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The long-term damage that an unqualified, incompetent, compromised or immoral — but superpowered — mayor can inflict on the city is too great.—
Steven Falk,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
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But this time, instead of managing guest complaints, incompetent stews, and steamy boatmances as the chief stewardess of Parsifal III on Below Deck Sailing Yacht, Daisy has jumped ship (literally) as the new chief stew on Below Deck Down Under.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helpless. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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