helpless
adjective
unable to help oneself; weak or dependent.
helplessly
-
a word derived from
helpless.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In her village, Niki So had watched helplessly as her neighbours' homes were torn down, waiting for the bulldozers to reach the house where her family lived for three generations.
From Barron's ● Sep. 13, 2026
And yet, every time, Lucy yanked the ball away at the last moment, leaving Charlie Brown flying helplessly through the air.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 3, 2026
When troublemaker Arlene moves in across the street to live with her father, Maria falls helplessly under her corrupting influence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026
However, after hitting his second shot into greenside rough, he could only hack his ball out and watch helplessly as it trundled across the green and into the water, leading to another bogey.
From BBC ● Mar. 15, 2026
“After Karl and Chase got the horses out, the hay caught, and before we could do anything—” She lifted her hands helplessly.
From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson
