helpless

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Not able to protect yourself or to act in a situation because you lack strength or control.

   Grammar: Used after be or feel, or before a noun: feel helpless, a helpless child.

   Patterns

   • helpless to do something
   • feel helpless

   The newborn kittens were completely helpless.

   He felt helpless watching the flood rise.

   Without a phone, we were helpless to call for aid.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing that someone cannot do anything about a situation, as in a gesture or laugh.

   Grammar: Describes an expression, not a person: a helpless shrug.

   Patterns

   • a helpless shrug
   • helpless laughter

   She gave a helpless shrug when asked for the answer.

   The audience dissolved into helpless laughter.

   He threw up his hands in helpless frustration.

Word forms

Common combinations

feel helpless

She felt helpless as the storm passed.

helpless victim

The helpless victim called for help.

helpless to stop

We were helpless to stop the fire.

helpless laughter

They collapsed into helpless laughter.

utterly helpless

A baby is utterly helpless alone.

Synonyms and how they differ

powerless

Powerless stresses lack of authority or control, whereas helpless stresses inability to cope or protect yourself.

defenseless

Defenseless means unable to guard against attack, a narrower idea than helpless.

vulnerable

Vulnerable means easily hurt, while helpless suggests being unable to do anything at all.

incapable

Incapable refers to a lasting lack of ability, but helpless is often a temporary situation.

Opposites

Word family

help noun

assistance given to someone

helplessly adverb

in a way that shows no ability to act

helplessness noun

the state of being unable to act

helpful adjective

giving help, the opposite sense of the suffix

Commonly confused: helpless or hopeless?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “helpless”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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