Helplessly: meaning, definitions and examples

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helplessly

 

[ ˈhɛlpləsli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

feeling or showing no hope

Feeling or showing no hope, unable to deal with a difficult situation, or not knowing what to do. It is often associated with a sense of powerlessness or despair.

Synonyms

desperately, hopelessly, powerlessly

Examples of usage

  • She looked helplessly at the broken glass on the floor.
  • He stood helplessly by as the fire destroyed his home.
  • The puppy wagged its tail helplessly as it tried to escape from the fence.
  • I felt helplessly lost in the vast desert.
  • The child cried helplessly for his mother.

Translations

Translations of the word "helplessly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desamparadamente

🇮🇳 बेसहारा

🇩🇪 hilflos

🇮🇩 tak berdaya

🇺🇦 безпорадно

🇵🇱 bezradnie

🇯🇵 無力に

🇫🇷 désespérément

🇪🇸 desamparadamente

🇹🇷 çaresizce

🇰🇷 무력하게

🇸🇦 بلا حول ولا قوة

🇨🇿 bezmocně

🇸🇰 bezmocne

🇨🇳 无助地

🇸🇮 nebogljeno

🇮🇸 hjálparvana

🇰🇿 дәрменсіз

🇬🇪 უსუსურად

🇦🇿 köməksiz

🇲🇽 desamparadamente

Word origin

The word 'helplessly' is derived from the word 'helpless', which originated in the late 16th century. The suffix '-ly' is added to the word 'helpless' to form 'helplessly', transforming the adjective into an adverb. The concept of helplessness has been explored in psychology and philosophy, highlighting the feelings of powerlessness and lack of control in various situations.

See also: helper, helpers, helpful, helpfully, helpfulness, helping, helpless, helplessness, unhelpful.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,752, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.