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Unhelpfully: meaning, definitions and examples

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unhelpfully

 

[ ʌnˈhɛlpfəli ]

Adverb
Context #1 | Adverb

describing actions

Unhelpfully is used to describe an action or response that does not provide assistance or support. It indicates a lack of helpfulness in a situation where help is expected or needed.

Synonyms

detrimentally, unavailingly, unbeneficially.

Examples of usage

  • She answered the question unhelpfully, giving only vague responses.
  • The instructions were unhelpfully complex, leaving everyone confused.
  • He unhelpfully pointed out the mistakes without offering solutions.

Translations

Translations of the word "unhelpfully" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inútilmente

🇮🇳 असहायक रूप से

🇩🇪 unnütz

🇮🇩 tidak membantu

🇺🇦 непомічно

🇵🇱 niepomocnie

🇯🇵 役に立たない形で

🇫🇷 inutilement

🇪🇸 inútilmente

🇹🇷 faydasız bir şekilde

🇰🇷 도움이 되지 않게

🇸🇦 بشكل غير مفيد

🇨🇿 neužitečně

🇸🇰 neužitočne

🇨🇳 无用地

🇸🇮 neuporabno

🇮🇸 ónyt

🇰🇿 пайдасыз

🇬🇪 არასახმარებლად

🇦🇿 köməksiz

🇲🇽 inútilmente

Etymology

The word 'unhelpfully' is derived from the adjective 'helpful', which has its roots in Old English 'helpful', meaning 'giving help'. The prefix 'un-' is added to convey the opposite meaning. The earliest documented use of 'help' dates back to the Old English term 'helpan', which means 'to contribute to someone's well-being or ease'. Over time, 'helpful' emerged in Middle English, evolving from the combination of 'help' and the suffix '-ful', indicating 'full of or characterized by'. The adverbial form 'unhelpfully' likely developed in the late 20th century as a way to articulate actions or behaviors that fail to assist or support others, emphasizing a negative connotation. This term reflects contemporary linguistic patterns of adding prefixes to modify meanings, allowing for more precise expression in conversation and writing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,171, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.