HIGH AND DRY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

high and dry

adjective

Definition of high and dry

as in helpless

unable to act or achieve one's purpose the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived

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Recent Examples of high and dry Mel is likely mad at the lawyers running her depositions, and her sister for leaving her high and dry on the Fourth of July. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026 When her professor, predictably, leaves her high and dry, Margo drops out of college and makes an OnlyFans account as a last ditch effort to get some quick cash. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026 And your card perks can step in when an airline leaves you high and dry during a delay. — Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2026 Kiffin instantly became the most hated man in Oxford after leaving the Rebels high and dry just as the College Football Playoff was set to begin, accepting a contract reportedly worth nearly $100 million. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 15 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for high and dry

Recent Examples of Synonyms for high and dry

Adjective

Bernstein plays with that distance like a telephone cord wrapped around her fingers, and Eleni — played by the excellent newcomer Cemre Paksoy, powerfully helpless — only frays even more as the receiver is brought near the hook.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
The leading interpretation is that Smilodon delivered a single precise bite to the throat or belly, severing something vital in a target that was already helpless.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

Yuba City resident Michelle Reinhart said the disease left her essentially paralyzed, unable to move her hands or head for about two weeks after contracting the disease in 2015.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
His fixation on the bill — which lacks enough GOP support in the Senate — has undermined unrelated Republican priorities in both chambers and nearly paralyzed legislative business in the House.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 13 July 2026

Definition of paralyzed

Adjective

This show is about scheming, the weight of the crown, and incompetent brats who want to scheme to get their hands on the crown.

— Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Her Volumnia bellows at her meek daughter-in-law, Virgilia (Justine Faith) as though reprimanding an incompetent private.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of incompetent

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high

high and dry

high and low

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“High and dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high%20and%20dry. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of high and dry

adjective

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