helpless

helpless
[[t]he̱lpləs[/t]]
ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ to-inf, ADJ with n
If you are helpless, you do not have the strength or power to do anything useful or to control or protect yourself.

Parents often feel helpless, knowing that all the cuddles in the world won't stop the tears...

Children are dying, and I am helpless to do anything...

Once aboard we were soon helpless with laughter at the absurdity of it...

They are not merely helpless victims.

Derived words:
helplessly ADV-GRADED usu ADV with v

Their son watched helplessly as they vanished beneath the waves.

helplessness N-UNCOUNT

I remember my feelings of helplessness.


English dictionary. 2008.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Helpless — Help less, a. 1. Destitute of help or strength; unable to help or defend one s self; needing help; feeble; weak; as, a helpless infant. [1913 Webster] How shall I then your helpless fame defend? Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. Beyond help; irremediable.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Helpless — may refer to:*Helplessness * Helpless (play), a play by Dusty Hughes * Helpless (song), a Neil Young song, most famously recorded by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young * Helpless (1996 film), a film by Shinji Aoyama *Helpless (Buffy episode), an… …   Wikipedia

  • Helpless — Episodio de Buffy the Vampire Slayer Título Indefensa (España Latinoamérica) Identificador 3ABB012 Episodio nº 12 Temporada …   Wikipedia Español

  • helpless — I (Defenseless) adjective abandoned aidless, conquerable, deserted, exposed, expugnable, forsaken, friendless, guardless, in danger, inermis, inops, open to attack, pregnable, resourceless, shelterless, unaided, unarmed, unarmored, unbefriended,… …   Law dictionary

  • helpless — unable to act for oneself, c.1200, from HELP (Cf. help) (n.) + LESS (Cf. less). Related: Helplessly; helplessness. In Middle English and later sometimes also unable to give help, affording no help (late 14c.), but this was never common …   Etymology dictionary

  • helpless — [adj] incapable, incompetent; vulnerable abandoned, basket case*, debilitated, defenseless, dependent, destitute, disabled, exposed, feeble, forlorn, forsaken, friendless, handcuffed, impotent, inefficient, inexpert, infirm, invalid, over a… …   New thesaurus

  • helpless — ► ADJECTIVE 1) unable to defend oneself or to act without help. 2) uncontrollable. DERIVATIVES helplessly adverb helplessness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • helpless — [help′lis] adj. 1. not able to help oneself; weak 2. lacking help or protection 3. incompetent, ineffective, or powerless helplessly adv. helplessness n …   English World dictionary

  • helpless — adj. VERBS ▪ appear, be, feel, lie, look, seem, stand, watch ▪ John felt completely helpless …   Collocations dictionary

  • helpless — help|less [ˈhelpləs] adj 1.) unable to look after yourself or to do anything to help yourself ▪ He began to feel depressed and helpless. ▪ a vicious attack on a helpless victim ▪ Newman threw out a hand in a helpless gesture. 2.) unable to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • helpless — help|less [ helpləs ] adjective * not able to do anything without help: He looked helpless sitting there all alone. be/feel helpless to do something: I knew they were lying but I felt helpless to do anything about it. a. helpless laughter, tears …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”