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Unable to help oneself or others due to lack of power, resources, or ability.
After the accident, she felt helpless to save her friend.
She couldn't do anything to help her friend in that moment.
The small country was helpless against the invading army.
The country lacked the resources or power to defend itself.
Often used to describe emotional or physical inability to act.
Helpless can describe both emotional states (e.g., 'feeling helpless') and physical inability (e.g., 'a helpless victim').
Always consider whether 'helpless' refers to emotional or physical inability in a given context.
From Middle English 'helples', from Old English 'hæleplīc', from 'hæle' (help) + '-līc' (suffix forming adjectives).
Often used to describe emotional states, such as feeling unable to cope with a situation.