as in powerlessness
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Recent Examples of helplessness
The Global Compassion Coalition says that the first step to overcoming helplessness is to practice acceptance instead of resistance, which is a hard pill to take at the moment.
—
Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Over time, the brain links conflict with helplessness.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
Over time, the brain links conflict with helplessness.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helplessness
Noun
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Not for pleasure, but out of boredom, and our powerlessness before the Volgograd highway.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
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El-Amin said the atmosphere was one of powerlessness and confusion.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That accounts equally for Lily’s arch froideur and Diana’s enduring lack of self-worth, played by both actors with care and compassion, and contrasting flickers of vulnerability and resolve, respectively.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
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Seized by a desperate need to be heard and unable to speak, Sara reaches for another language, leaving her son a final message through an act of profound vulnerability.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Genetics may impact your susceptibility to heart failure, so talk with your doctor.—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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The anatomy of the wrist is responsible for the high susceptibility to nerve pain with repetitive hand motions that require wrist flexion.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helplessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helplessness. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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