defenseless
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defenseless
Without the ability or means to defend oneself against an attack, a danger, or a strong influence; exposed without protection.
Die frisch geschlüpften Küken waren dem Angriff der Katze wehrlos ausgesetzt.
The newly hatched chicks were defenseless against the cat's attack.
The adjective is made up of 'die Wehr' (defense) and the ending '-los', which means 'without'. 'Wehrlos' (defenseless) therefore literally means 'without defense'.
Ohne seine Waffen fühlte sich der Soldat völlig wehrlos.
Without his weapons, the soldier felt completely defenseless.
'Wehrlos' (defenseless) is often used in the fixed expression 'jemandem/etwas wehrlos ausgeliefert sein' (to be defenselessly at the mercy of someone/something). The threat is in the dative. Alternatively, you can use 'gegen + accusative' (against + accusative).
Die Bevölkerung war der Willkür des Diktators wehrlos ausgeliefert.
The population was defenselessly at the mercy of the dictator's arbitrariness.
The adjective often describes people or living beings in a vulnerable situation. Common subjects are 'Opfer' (victims), 'Kinder' (children), or 'Tiere' (animals). A typical verb is 'sich wehrlos fühlen' (to feel defenseless).
Das kleine Tier stand dem Raubvogel wehrlos gegenüber.
The small animal stood defenseless before the bird of prey.
helpless
Hilflos describes someone generally when they cannot cope with a difficult or dangerous situation on their own. Wehrlos is more specific and means that someone cannot defend themselves against an attack or a specific danger. Both words can therefore fit in the case of an attack, but wehrlos emphasizes the lack of resistance.
Ohne jede Möglichkeit zur Gegenwehr war der Mann dem Angreifer wehrlos ausgeliefert.
With no way to fight back, the man was defenseless in the attacker’s power.
Nach dem Angriff lag der verletzte Mann hilflos auf dem Boden und brauchte Unterstützung.
After the attack, the injured man lay helpless on the ground and needed support.
