defenseless
Open to attack
Defenseless describes something or someone lacking protection or the means to resist attack.
A defenseless village has no fortifications or armed guards.
A defenseless animal cannot fight back against a predator.
The word often emphasizes vulnerability to evoke sympathy or outrage: attacking defenseless civilians.
Also spelled defenceless in British English.
Without safeguard or shield
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
- uncoveredMade visible or known
- bareLacking any covering
- openNot closed
unsheltered · unfortified · unsecured · vulnerable · accessible · visible · out in the open · naked
Lacking power or force
- helplessUnable to act independently
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- feebleWeak and ineffective
frail · incapacitated · overwhelmed · outmatched · paralyzed · immobilized · cornered · trapped
Unable to act independently
- victimOne harmed by another
- preyAnimal being hunted
- childlikeHaving youthful innocence
- trustingInclined to believe others
unsuspecting · naive · gentle · tender · fragile · pure · guileless · blameless
Made safe or captivated
- pacifistAnti-violence believer
- civilianNon-military person
- noncombatantPerson not engaged in warfare
- weaponlessHaving no arms
peaceful · nonviolent · bystander · neutral · stripped · unequipped · empty-handed · outgunned
unprotected
Without safeguard or shield
- unshieldedLacking protective barrier
- uncoveredMade visible or known
- bareLacking any covering
open · unsheltered · unfortified · unsecured · vulnerable · accessible · visible · out in the open · naked · susceptible
weak
Lacking power or force
- helplessUnable to act independently
- impotentLacking power or efficacy
- vulnerableOpen to attack
feeble · frail · incapacitated · overwhelmed · outmatched · paralyzed · immobilized · cornered · trapped · pinned
helpless
Unable to act independently
trusting · unsuspecting · naive · gentle · tender · fragile · pure · guileless · blameless · harmless
disarmed
Made safe or captivated
- pacifistAnti-violence believer
- civilianNon-military person
- noncombatantPerson not engaged in warfare
weaponless · peaceful · nonviolent · bystander · neutral · stripped · unequipped · empty-handed · outgunned · overpowered
- Security Statussafe, secure, secured, unsafe, insecure
- weakweak, feeble, frail, fragile, faint
- unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready
- vulnerabilityvulnerability, vulnerable, helplessness, helpless, powerlessness
- innocenceinnocent, innocence, purity, pure, blameless
- Danger Levelsdanger, high risk, high-risk, low risk, critical
defenselessinvulnerable
Immune to all harm
impregnable · invincible · impenetrable · unassailable · immune
defenselesspowerful
Having great strength
strong · mighty · formidable · omnipotent · almighty