adjective
defenceless
dih-FEHNS-luhs
Defenceless (adjective) means Without protection; unable to defend oneself. Example: “The villagers were left defenceless after the soldiers withdrew.”
adjective
1
Without protection; unable to defend oneself.
"The villagers were left defenceless after the soldiers withdrew."
How to use defenceless
Learner’s notes
UK vs US
British spelling; American English writes "defenseless."
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more defenceless
- Superlative
- most defenceless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The villagers were left _____ after the soldiers withdrew.
Etymology
From defence + the suffix -less ("without").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for defenceless
useless
ageless
wireless
hopeless
homeless
tireless
careless
lifeless
baseless
clueless
timeless
loveless
See all rhymes for defenceless →
Frequently asked questions
What does “defenceless” mean?
The word “defenceless” means without protection; unable to defend oneself.
How do you pronounce “defenceless”?
“Defenceless” is pronounced dih-FEHNS-luhs (/dɪˈfɛnsləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “defenceless” in a sentence?
Here is “defenceless” used in a sentence: “The villagers were left defenceless after the soldiers withdrew.”
What part of speech is “defenceless”?
“Defenceless” is an adjective.
