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Defenseless: meaning, definitions and examples

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defenseless

 

[ dɪˈfɛnsləs ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling vulnerable

Without protection from harm or danger; easily attacked or harmed; lacking the ability to defend oneself.

Synonyms

exposed, helpless, open, unprotected, vulnerable

Examples of usage

  • She felt defenseless against the harsh criticism.
  • The defenseless child was left alone in the dangerous neighborhood.
  • Without any weapons, the soldiers were defenseless against the enemy.
  • The defenseless animal was unable to escape from the predator.
  • Feeling defenseless, she sought refuge in the safety of her home.

Translations

Translations of the word "defenseless" in other languages:

🇵🇹 indefeso

🇮🇳 असहाय

🇩🇪 wehrlos

🇮🇩 tanpa pertahanan

🇺🇦 беззахисний

🇵🇱 bezbronny

🇯🇵 無防備

🇫🇷 sans défense

🇪🇸 indefenso

🇹🇷 savunmasız

🇰🇷 무방비

🇸🇦 بلا دفاع

🇨🇿 bezbranný

🇸🇰 bezbranný

🇨🇳 无助

🇸🇮 nezaščiten

🇮🇸 varnarlaus

🇰🇿 қорғансыз

🇬🇪 დაუცველი

🇦🇿 müdafiəsiz

🇲🇽 indefenso

Etymology

The word 'defenseless' originated from the combination of 'defense' and the suffix '-less', which means 'without'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-16th century. The term emphasizes the state of being without protection or the ability to defend oneself. Over time, 'defenseless' has been commonly used in various contexts to describe vulnerability and the lack of defense against harm or danger.

See also: defenselessly, defenses, defensibility, defensible, defensively, defensiveness, indefensible.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,961, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.