indefesos

[in-de-FE-sos]
adjectivemasculinepl: indefesos (masculine plural) / indefesas (feminine plural)
defenseless, undefended, helpless
1. lacking defense or protection; unable to protect oneself
The defenseless children were left alone in the house.
As crianças indefesas foram deixadas sozinhas na casa.
2. vulnerable to harm or attack; exposed
The soldier found himself defenseless against the enemy.
O soldado se viu indefeso contra o inimigo.
3. without legal or social protection
The poor and defenseless members of society need support.
Os membros indefesos e pobres da sociedade precisam de apoio.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'indefesos' is commonly used in social and political discourse to describe vulnerable populations, such as indigenous peoples, children, and the poor. It carries moral and ethical weight, often used to advocate for protection and justice for those without means to defend themselves.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
desprotegidovulnerávelindefesodesarmadoimpotentefrágil
Antonyms / Antônimos
protegidodefendidoarmadofortepoderoso

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
indefesos
standard usage throughout Brazil
Portugal
indefesos
same usage as Brazilian Portuguese

Related Words

defesadefensáveldesprotegervulnerabilidadeindefensável

Related Idioms & Phrases

deixar alguém indefeso
ficar indefeso diante de algo
estar indefeso contra a injustiça
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