as in powerlessness
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Recent Examples of helplessness
Perceived as constantly available, thanks to stable Dutch internet service, the refugees described a state of connected helplessness.
—
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
The helplessness of being a spectator.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
In the ensuing days and years, Hodges has had to come to terms with that helplessness.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Rose Byrne stars as a therapist who increasingly spirals as her life gets out of her control, as her helplessness over her daughter’s mystery illness is compounded by a patient who goes missing, an absentee husband and her own therapist trying to abandon her.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
One study even found that individuals with no prior trauma who watched distressing news reports showed symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, such as anxiety, nightmares, and feelings of helplessness.
—Kriti Gupta, Refinery29, 17 Dec. 2025
In every call, the helplessness was palpable and the heartbreak immediate.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
The director chose to portray this systemic helplessness deliberately.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
The helplessness of being a spectator.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
The film crashed down onto Earth at a moment as audiences worldwide reeled from the helplessness of their own global crisis.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026
In the ensuing days and years, Hodges has had to come to terms with that helplessness.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Rose Byrne stars as a therapist who increasingly spirals as her life gets out of her control, as her helplessness over her daughter’s mystery illness is compounded by a patient who goes missing, an absentee husband and her own therapist trying to abandon her.
—Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
One study even found that individuals with no prior trauma who watched distressing news reports showed symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, such as anxiety, nightmares, and feelings of helplessness.
—Kriti Gupta, Refinery29, 17 Dec. 2025
In every call, the helplessness was palpable and the heartbreak immediate.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
The director chose to portray this systemic helplessness deliberately.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helplessness
Noun
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So that fundamental feeling of powerlessness in the face of larger, ominous and obscure forces doesn’t feel very crazy or conspiratorial to me.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
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One year before Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire published their compendium of Greek myths, Cicellis released her second work of fiction, The Way to Colonos, which ruthlessly dramatizes the limits of individual freedom and the agony of facing one’s powerlessness.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On Monday, finance ministers from the G7 nations huddled in Washington over their vulnerability in the critical mineral supply chains.—
Didi Tang,
Fortune,
15 Jan. 2026
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Leaders must respond to anxieties about vulnerability while preserving access to both China and the United States.—
Pratap Bhanu Mehta,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That's likely because, when the balance of gut bacteria is disturbed, immune regulation may falter, increasing inflammation and susceptibility to autoimmune reactions.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
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While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Helplessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helplessness. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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