helpless

1 of 2

adjective

help·less ˈhel-pləs

Southern often ˈhep-ləs

also ˈheəp-

Synonyms of helpless

: lacking protection or support : defenseless

… as helpless as a flock of shepherdless sheep …—W. H. Mallock

: marked by an inability to act or react

The crowd looked on in helpless horror …—Current Biography

: not able to be controlled or restrained

helpless laughter

helplessly adverb

helplessness noun

helplessness

2 of 2

noun

help·less·ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being helpless

Synonyms of helpless

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Adjective

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Examples of helpless in a Sentence

Adjective The civilians were helpless against their attackers. Firefighters were helpless against the blaze. I feel helpless. Isn't there anything I can do? The crowd was helpless with laughter. He was helpless with rage.

Recent Examples on the Web

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Adjective

In an America where people my age feel particularly subjugated and helpless, accusing someone else of political and moral impropriety and defending your case with your life can instill in you feelings of reified self-empowerment and control. — Ivy Wolk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026 Soon Rakowski was firing the ball to a wide-open Flowers for a 43-yard touchdown as two helpless Mira Costa defenders gave pursuit. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026 Eisenkot and Netanyahu differ in important ways on the barrage of West Bank settler attacks against helpless Palestinians, which are aimed at driving them out of their land. — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026 That’s not because Crystal soft-pedals the emotional horror of returning to your home to find charred remains after watching, helpless, as flames took the locus of all your best memories. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for helpless

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see help entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of helpless was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Browse Nearby Words

helping verb

helpless

helplessly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpless. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

helpless

adjective

help·less ˈhel-pləs

: being without defense

: powerless

helplessly adverb

helplessness noun

helpless

adjective

noun

Synonyms of helpless

Examples of helpless in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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