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helplessness

   Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
help·less  (hlpls)
adj.
1. Unable to help oneself; powerless or incompetent.
2. Lacking support or protection: They were left helpless in the storm.
3. Impossible to control; involuntary: helpless laughter.
helpless·ly adv.
helpless·ness n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.helplessness - powerlessness revealed by an inability to act; "in spite of their weakness the group remains active"
impuissance, weakness
impotence, impotency, powerlessness - the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble
2.helplessness - the state of needing help from something
dependence, dependency, dependance - the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else
3.helplessness - a feeling of being unable to manage
depression - sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy
helplessness
noun vulnerability, weakness, impotence, powerlessness, disability, infirmity, feebleness, forlornness, defencelessness


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
And they may unfold a tale of narrow escape, of steady ill-luck, of high winds and heavy weather, of ice, of interminable calms or endless head-gales; a tale of difficulties overcome, of adversity defied by a small knot of men upon the great loneliness of the sea; a tale of resource, of courage - of helplessness, perhaps.
The Mirror of the Sea by Conrad, Joseph View in context
My first impulse was to tell her of my love, and then I thought of the helplessness of her position wherein I alone could lighten the burdens of her captivity, and protect her in my poor way against the thousands of hereditary enemies she must face upon our arrival at Thark.
A Princess of Mars by Burroughs, Edgar Rice View in context
Alexey Alexandrovitch shuddered at the allusion to his wife, but immediately his face assumed the deathlike rigidity which expressed utter helplessness in the matter.
Anna Karenina by Tolstoy, Leo View in context
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