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defenseless

defenseless

73 3.5
Without protection and easy to hurt
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈfɛns.ləs/
  • US
: indefenso
  • My king, we are all but defenseless.
  • a defenseless victim
  • defenseless against an attack
  • defenseless civilians

The criminals of the underworld came out and in the confusion preyed on the elderly and defenseless young girls.

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Examples

  • The kitten was left defenseless in the park without its mother.

  • Antoine realized that the abbess was as defenseless and as irrelevant to the world as an orphan.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Well, looks like we're totally defenseless now.

  • Why were those people living in this defenseless place?

  • We trust that no one would harm a poor defenseless animal.

  • Plants and flowers are the oldest species on the planet, yet they are defenseless against man.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Only a coward would hit a defenseless boy.

  • Now Tracy's home alone most nights and she's not the only defenseless woman in this city.

  • The criminals of the underworld came out and in the confusion preyed on the elderly and defenseless young girls.

  • No longer the benevolent patriarch, he "overawed the quiet and defenseless to purchase their safety by frequent contributions."

    Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

vulnerable
vsdefenseless
590 4.0

At risk of being harmed, attacked or influenced

is more about lacking protection and active defence ability against harm
helpless
vsdefenseless
237 2.0

Not able to act or protect yourself

expresses being exposed because of missing protection rather than just inability
unprotected
vsdefenseless
55 2.9

Not safe from harm

focuses on inability to resist or defend oneself
undefended
vsdefenseless
5 6.0

Not protected from attack or criticism

is about lacking personal ability to protect against harm
naked
vsdefenseless
4 3.2

Left without protection and open to danger

stresses lack of ability to resist or defend oneself, not just exposure
unguarded
vsdefenseless
3 5.1

Not careful about what you say or do, so you reveal more than you want

is about lacking personal means to resist harm rather than carelessness
unfortified
vsdefenseless
1 5.8

Has no protection by walls or added vitamins

applies to people lacking defence ability rather than only structural weakness
uninsulated
vsdefenseless
1 5.5

Exposed to problems from outside without protection for people or things

focuses on lacking protection and the power to protect oneself
guardless
vsdefenseless
1 7.9

Not protected and open to danger

focuses on lacking one's own ability to fend off harm rather than absent watchers
unsheltered
vsdefenseless
5.5

Feeling alone and without help or advice

refers to lacking physical protection and the ability to defend oneself

Antonyms

452 2.0

Kept safe from harm or danger

27 5.1

A place with walls and towers that protect it

How Defenseless

helpless
237 2.0
defenseless
  • US
73 3.5
vulnerable
590 4.0
unprotected
55 2.9
exposed
182 3.4

Surface Forms

defenseless positive
defenceless positive

Morphology

defenseless = defense (transparent) = defense + less

The adjective is clearly formed from the noun 'defense' plus the productive suffix '-less' meaning 'without'.

Etymology

The word defenseless comes from defend meaning 'to keep away harm' and the ending -less meaning 'without', so it describes someone or something 'without protection' and unable to 'fend off' danger.