sense of helplessness

USAGE SUMMARY

"sense of helplessness" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to the feeling or perception of being unable to control or change a situation. Example: After her car broke down on the deserted highway, Sarah felt a sense of helplessness as she realized she had no cellphone signal and no other drivers were passing by.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Not the sense of helplessness.

The New York Times

I felt a sense of helplessness".

The Guardian

Among the Travellers there was a sense of helplessness.

The Guardian

Sometimes, the sense of helplessness must have been overwhelming.

The New York Times

Her anger and sense of helplessness rose as she spoke.

The New York Times

To me, my main depression was a sense of helplessness.

The New York Times - Health

This seemed counterintuitive, given that depressed people often suffer from lethargy and a sense of helplessness.

University of California, Berkeley

Many in the Arab world watch its gathering force with a sense of helplessness.

The Washington Post

I have a PhD in computer science but I still had a sense of helplessness.

The Economist

As a nation, we are becoming more and more accustomed to a sense of helplessness.

The New York Times

There may be a frustrating sense of helplessness in that realization.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sense of helplessness", ensure the context clearly indicates the cause or situation leading to this feeling. Specifying the trigger enhances the reader's understanding and the emotional impact of the statement.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of helplessness" as a vague descriptor. Provide specific details about what contributes to this feeling, preventing misinterpretations and strengthening your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of helplessness" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. Ludwig provides numerous examples in diverse contexts. The phrase denotes a subjective feeling or perception.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sense of helplessness" is a grammatically sound and prevalent expression used to describe feelings of powerlessness and inability to control a situation. Ludwig confirms its appropriateness across various contexts, including News & Media and Academia. While "sense of helplessness" is versatile, clarifying the cause of the feeling enhances clarity. Related phrases include "feeling of powerlessness" and "feeling of impotence", each providing nuanced perspectives on the experience. By avoiding overgeneralization and clearly specifying the triggers, writers can effectively convey the emotional weight of "sense of helplessness".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling of powerlessness

Focuses on the lack of power rather than the emotional experience.

feeling of being powerless

Emphasizes the state of lacking power.

feeling of impotence

Highlights a lack of ability to effect change or influence outcomes.

state of powerlessness

Focuses on the condition or situation of lacking power.

feeling of vulnerability

Shifts the focus to being susceptible to harm or negative outcomes.

feeling of futility

Emphasizes the pointlessness of effort.

state of vulnerability

Highlights the condition of being exposed or at risk.

feeling of being trapped

Conveys a sense of confinement and inability to escape.

sense of despair

Emphasizes the loss of hope and feeling of being overwhelmed.

feeling of being overwhelmed

Focuses on being burdened and unable to cope.

FAQs

How to use "sense of helplessness" in a sentence?

You can use "sense of helplessness" to describe a feeling of being unable to control or change a situation. For example: "After losing her job, she was overcome by a "sense of helplessness".".

What can I say instead of "sense of helplessness"?

You can use alternatives like "feeling of powerlessness", "feeling of impotence", or "sense of despair" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "sense of helplessness" or "feeling of helplessness"?

Both "sense of helplessness" and "feeling of helplessness" are grammatically correct and widely used. The choice depends on personal preference, as they convey nearly the same meaning.

What's the difference between "sense of helplessness" and "sense of hopelessness"?

"Sense of helplessness" refers to the feeling of being unable to change a situation, while "sense of hopelessness" refers to the belief that a situation will not improve. While related, helplessness focuses on the lack of control and hopelessness focuses on the lack of hope.