defenceless


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adj.1.defenceless - lacking protection or support; "a defenseless child"
vulnerable - susceptible to attack; "a vulnerable bridge"
2.defenceless - lacking weapons for self-defense
unarmed - (used of persons or the military) not having or using arms; "went alone and unarmed"; "unarmed peasants were shot down"; "unarmed vehicles"
Adv.1.defenceless - without defense; "the child was standing in the middle of the crossfire, defenselessly"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

defenceless

U.S. defenseless helpless
adjective exposed, vulnerable, naked, endangered, powerless, wide open, unarmed, unprotected, unguarded a leader who would leave the country isolated and defenceless
protected, safe, guarded, secure, safe and sound, out of harm's way, free from harm
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
عاجِز، بِدون حِمايَه
bezbranný
forsvarsløshjælpeløs
védtelen
varnarlaus
bezbranný

defenceless

defenseless (US) [dɪˈfenslɪs] ADJindefenso
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

defenceless

[dɪˈfɛnsləs] adj [person] → sans défense; [country] → sans défensedefence secretary nministre mf de la défense
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

defenceless

defenseless (Am) [dɪˈfɛnslɪs] adjinerme, indifeso/a, senza difesa
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

defence

(diˈfens) (American) defense noun
1. the act or action of defending against attack. the defence of Rome; He spoke in defence of the plans.
2. the method or equipment used to guard or protect. The walls will act as a defence against flooding.
3. a person's answer to an accusation especially in a law-court. What is your defence?
deˈfenceless adjective
helpless or without protection.
the defence
the case on behalf of a person who is accused in a law court. the counsel for the defence.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
Can honour bear the thought, that this creature is a tender, helpless, defenceless, young woman?
View the poor, helpless, orphan infant; and when your mind hath dwelt a moment only on such ideas, consider yourself as the cause of all the ruin of this poor, little, worthy, defenceless family.
They came to pick up an easy living among the dogs and owls, which were quite defenceless against them; took possession of their comfortable houses and ate the eggs and puppies.
Deer and other defenceless animals often herd about the elephant, which, contenting himself with roots and leaves, preserves those beasts that place themselves, as it were, under his protection, from the rage and fierceness of others that would devour them.
The attack was so unprovoked that Stroeve, taken unawares, was defenceless. He reminded you of a frightened sheep running aimlessly hither and thither.
So much of what had happened in that dreadful time as could be kept from the knowledge of Lucie was so well concealed from her, that not until long afterwards, when France and she were far apart, did she know that eleven hundred defenceless prisoners of both sexes and all ages had been killed by the populace; that four days and nights had been darkened by this deed of horror; and that the air around her had been tainted by the slain.
This influence of habit was necessarily strong in a man whose life was so monotonous as Marner's-- who saw no new people and heard of no new events to keep alive in him the idea of the unexpected and the changeful; and it explains simply enough, why his mind could be at ease, though he had left his house and his treasure more defenceless than usual.
Silver, agile as a monkey even without leg or crutch, was on the top of him next moment and had twice buried his knife up to the hilt in that defenceless body.
Generally the most indulgent and easy to be entreated of all mothers, still her boys had a very reverent remembrance of a most vehement chastisement she once bestowed on them, because she found them leagued with several graceless boys of the neighborhood, stoning a defenceless kitten.
You had not your little wits sharpened by their intriguing against you, suppressed and defenceless, under the mask of sympathy and pity and what not that is soft and soothing.
Dantes was then guilty, and now he is innocent, and it is as much my duty to free him as it was to condemn him." Villefort thus forestalled any danger of an inquiry, which, however improbable it might be, if it did take place would leave him defenceless.
It cannot be that I shall yield one inch, yet I am in terror as to what an accident might lead to, and I so defenceless on account of my first error.