Meaning & use
helpless
Unable to do anything to protect or help oneself; lacking power, strength, or resources.
See it in a sentence
The kitten looked utterly helpless, shivering alone in the cold evening rain.
Without her phone or wallet, she felt helpless in the unfamiliar city.
A note on using this word
Helpless often describes a temporary state caused by circumstance, rather than a permanent personal trait.
Words with a similar meaning
powerlessdefenseless
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
capableself-sufficient
Make it your own
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