as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
the inadequate supplies of vaccine left many people high and dry when the flu season arrived
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Recent Examples of high and dry
How much longer will the Navy be left high and dry?
—
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
But unions pushed back, warning employees that there was no precedent for such a move and that people who accepted it could be left high and dry.
—Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2025
But her wife ended up leaving her and left her high and dry.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
The Cowboys have been left high and dry after mismanaging their RB room, all while Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb continue to try to make ends meet.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for high and dry
Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2025
But unions pushed back, warning employees that there was no precedent for such a move and that people who accepted it could be left high and dry.
—Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 20 Feb. 2025
But her wife ended up leaving her and left her high and dry.
—Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
The Cowboys have been left high and dry after mismanaging their RB room, all while Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb continue to try to make ends meet.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for high and dry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high and dry
Adjective
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Hosts aren’t totally helpless in the face of these wasps.—
Avery Hurt,
Discover Magazine,
14 July 2025
-
Granted, Jess is helpless, and in classic Lena Dunham fashion, more than a bit of this episode is dedicated to showing off her flaws.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Carl Schulze, of Neenah, has used a wheelchair since 2007, when an accident severed his spinal cord and left him completely paralyzed.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
26 July 2025
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In June 2022, his face was left partially paralyzed following a Ramsay Hunt Syndrome diagnosis, which forced him to halt his Justice tour and then cancel it entirely.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
Witness the rally in the railroads last week that crushed shorts banking on weaker transport earnings.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
21 July 2025
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This weak cash generation capability raises questions about the company’s ability to fund growth investments and return capital to shareholders.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
He was found incompetent to stand trial, which in the state of Colorado, means he must be released from custody, Padden's office told Fox News Digital earlier this month.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
22 July 2025
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Malfunctioning surveillance equipment, conveniently incompetent jail staff, and statements from individuals such as the mayor of New York and Epstein’s brother played roles in fomenting this coalition.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“High and dry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high%20and%20dry. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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