1
: lacking protection or support : defenseless
as helpless as a flock of shepherdless sheep—
W. H. Mallock
W. H. Mallock2
a
: marked by an inability to act or react
the crowd looked on in helpless horror—Current Biography
Current Biography
b
: not able to be controlled or restrained
helpless laughter
helplessly
adverb
helplessness
noun
Examples of helpless in a Sentence
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
More generally, some people are concerned that becoming too reliant on AI for menial and routine tasks could lead to us becoming over-reliant and helpless, perhaps even to the detriment of human problem-solving or decision-making ability.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Asking for help isn’t the same as being helpless, Pryor noted.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Students who feel lost, parents who feel helpless and households filled with tension rather than encouragement.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
Students who feel lost, parents who feel helpless and households filled with tension rather than encouragement.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Asking for help isn’t the same as being helpless, Pryor noted.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025
Students who feel lost, parents who feel helpless and households filled with tension rather than encouragement.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
Students who feel lost, parents who feel helpless and households filled with tension rather than encouragement.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for helpless
Cite this Entry
“Helpless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helpless. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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