defencelessness
Without any protection
The state of being without protection or means of resistance.
Defencelessness implies vulnerability to attack, harm, or exploitation: The defencelessness of the small nation made it an easy target.
The word often carries emotional weight, evoking sympathy for those unable to protect themselves.
British spelling of defenselessness.
Openness to harm
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- weaknessDeficiency in force
- fragilityEase of breaking
insecurity · precariousness · susceptibility · exposure · nakedness · openness · frailty · impotence
Without safeguard or shield
- unarmedHaving no weapons
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
- unfortifiedLacking military defenses
unsheltered · uncovered · exposed · bare · open · assailable · pregnable · accessible
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
abandonment · isolation · forlornness · desperation · panic · distress · anguish · hopelessness
Exposure to harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- jeopardyRisk of harm
endangerment · imperilment · insecurity · precariousness · liability · exposure · menace · harm
vulnerability
Openness to harm
- helplessnessLacking ability to cope
- powerlessnessInability to affect outcomes
- weaknessDeficiency in force
fragility · insecurity · precariousness · susceptibility · exposure · nakedness · openness · frailty · impotence · incapacity
unprotected
Without safeguard or shield
- unarmedHaving no weapons
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
- unguardedWithout protection or caution
unfortified · unsheltered · uncovered · exposed · bare · open · assailable · pregnable · accessible · penetrable
fear
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
helplessness · abandonment · isolation · forlornness · desperation · panic · distress · anguish · hopelessness · despair
danger
Exposure to harm
jeopardy · endangerment · imperilment · insecurity · precariousness · liability · exposure · menace · harm · injury
- vulnerabilityvulnerability, vulnerable, defenseless, helplessness, helpless
defencelessnessprotection
Guarding against harm
security · fortification · impregnability · invulnerability · defensibility
defencelessnessstrength
Power to exert force
power · might · potency · capability · resilience
defencelessnessindependence
Freedom from external control
self-reliance · strength · might · autonomy · self-sufficiency
defend, defender, defended, defensive, defence, defenders, defensible, undefended, indefensible