rudderless

[ruhd-er-lis]

adjective

1. (of a boat, ship, or aircraft) lacking a rudder, the device or structure used to change direction and steer.

   I love the story of Columba, a priest in sixth-century Ireland, who got into a rudderless boat and let God and providence take him where he was meant to be.

2. lacking purpose, leadership, moral principles, or anything else that might provide direction; aimless.

   The people are drifting and rudderless, without a vision to unify and motivate them and without a shared set of values.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rudderless¹

rudder ( def. ) + -less ( def. )

Example Sentences

We don't really know how City will line up with their new players either, but they surely can't be as fragile - or rudderless - as they were without Rodri last season.

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If England were ruthless West Indies were rudderless as this match marked the end of a pretty chastening tour.

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Over time, we had to learn to play without him but at that point, when he was out of the team, I felt we were a bit rudderless.

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It implies that Trump has no idea what to do and relies on others for validation of his actions — and since those people have their own agendas, our nation is a rudderless ship.

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Their children seem rudderless, but they approach the world with more dexterity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times