American English
/ˈhɛl.pləs/
2 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Unable to protect yourself or manage a situation alone.
In helpless, the final syllable is unstressed: /ˈhɛɫ.pləs/. In natural speech, its weak vowel may sound closer to /ˈhɛɫ.plɪs/.
Unable to protect yourself or manage a situation alone.
The baby was helpless in deep water.
After the accident, he was helpless without his walker.
helpless child · helpless animal · completely helpless
be helpless without + noun
leave + someone + helpless
Unable to change a bad situation or stop someone’s suffering.
She felt helpless as her friend cried.
I felt helpless while my father was in the hospital.
Helpless means unable to act; hopeless means that success is very unlikely.
feel helpless · feel completely helpless
feel helpless when + someone + verb
feel helpless about + noun
Unable to stop laughing.
We were helpless with laughter.