helpless

[ help-lis ]

adjective

1. unable to help oneself; weak or dependent:

   a helpless invalid.

2. deprived of strength or power; powerless; incapacitated:

   They were helpless with laughter.

3. affording no help.

helpless

/ ˈhɛlplɪs /

adjective

1. unable to manage independently
2. made powerless or weak

   they were helpless from so much giggling

3. without help

Derived Forms

• ˈhelplessly, adverb
• ˈhelplessness, noun

Other Words From

• helpless·ly adverb
• helpless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of helpless¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English; help + -less

Example Sentences

Mr Bailey added the prosecution's case was that Mr Sidpara inflicted many or most of the injuries to Ms Riaz "while she was unconscious or helpless".

From BBC

"A lot of people feel just totally helpless, like, what have we been doing? Why? Why can not even this galvanize change?"

From Salon

“It made a lot of people feel just totally helpless, like, what have we been doing? Why? Why can not even this galvanize change?”

From Salon

This is why I challenged the teens at the station - I felt a duty not only to my 12-year-old self, who once burst into tears feeling helpless at similar taunts, but also to disabled students today.

From BBC

The album’s title is an anagram of “I Felt Helpless,” reflecting a transformative journey through their album concepts: feel blue, symbolizing the sense of helplessness and loneliness; feel new, symbolizing renewed emotions of positivity and liberation; and feel you, reflecting the solidarity and togetherness of the 13 members.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• defenseless
• destitute
• forlorn
• impotent
• paralyzed
• powerless
• unable
• unprotected
• vulnerable
• weak