as in powerlessness
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Recent Examples of helplessness
Detainees can also feel helplessness because of the complexity surrounding immigration law.
—
CBS News, 27 May 2026
Linda wields her absolute power over Bradley like a cudgel, exploiting his helplessness to emotionally abuse and manipulate him.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
The giant numbers on gas station signs become daily reminders of economic pressure, creating feelings of helplessness and financial insecurity, even among middle-income workers.
—Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
There is a sort of helplessness that comes with being a trainer on race day.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
This helplessness is often reinforced through societal messaging, but the impact of this on a relationship can be a hefty one.
—Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Retí’s is the standout performance, cogently mapping a mother’s tenacity buckling under a mounting feeling of helplessness at watching her child disappear into a mystery.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Different circumstances, and yet his helplessness, medicine’s helplessness, felt the same.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The contest over causation goes to parents’ simultaneous senses of responsibility and helplessness about their children’s fates.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
CBS News, 27 May 2026
Linda wields her absolute power over Bradley like a cudgel, exploiting his helplessness to emotionally abuse and manipulate him.
—Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026
The giant numbers on gas station signs become daily reminders of economic pressure, creating feelings of helplessness and financial insecurity, even among middle-income workers.
—Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
There is a sort of helplessness that comes with being a trainer on race day.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
This helplessness is often reinforced through societal messaging, but the impact of this on a relationship can be a hefty one.
—Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Retí’s is the standout performance, cogently mapping a mother’s tenacity buckling under a mounting feeling of helplessness at watching her child disappear into a mystery.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Different circumstances, and yet his helplessness, medicine’s helplessness, felt the same.
—Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
The contest over causation goes to parents’ simultaneous senses of responsibility and helplessness about their children’s fates.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helplessness
Noun
-
The Wolf’s nudity could be read as a metaphor for his acceptance of his powerlessness, his willingness to listen with humility, and his purity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
Violence can come from feelings of powerlessness and desperation.—
Max Gao,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In cyberspeak, greenfield attack surfaces are potential vulnerabilities that arise from deploying brand-new technology.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Now, Vision Media, a screening company that handles awards promotion for studios like Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix and Paramount, is investigating whether the leak can be traced back to security vulnerabilities in its platform.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Strawberry Planters Strawberries require unique growing conditions due to their shallow roots, trailing growth, and susceptibility to pests and root rot.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
14 May 2026
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But the gaps this outbreak revealed in our ability to respond, and our immense susceptibility to a virus more capable and catastrophic, will remain.—
Craig Spencer,
STAT,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helplessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helplessness. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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