ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Helplessness

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈhɛlplɪsnɪs/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Helplessness is a noun meaning The state of being helpless.

Meaning

The state of being helpless.

More Meanings

  1. A feeling of inadequacy or impotence.

Example Sentences

Near-synonyms: powerlessness, impotence
ADAM: 'You are faced with overwhelming power. Accept your helplessness.'
Captain Edward Carlisle, soldier as he was, martinet as he was, felt a curious sensation of helplessness seize upon him as he met her steady gaze, her alluring smile ; he could not tell what this prisoner might do.
From the most ancient times to the present, in the crudest primitive tribe or the most magnificently ornamented civilization, man has found himself in a state of awed helplessness when confronted by the phenomena of strange illnesses or aberrations.

Word Forms

Synonyms for helplessness

Depending on context, synonyms include powerlessness, impotence, impuissance, weakness.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include impuissance, weakness, powerless, powerlessness, impotence, ineffectiveness.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.