Antonyms of adj helpless

3 senses of helpless

Sense 1
helpless, incapacitated -- (lacking in or deprived of strength or power; "lying ill and helpless"; "helpless with laughter")

INDIRECT (VIA powerless) -> powerful -- (having great power or force or potency or effect; "the most powerful government in western Europe"; "his powerful arms"; "a powerful bomb"; "the horse's powerful kick"; "powerful drugs"; "a powerful argument")

Sense 2
helpless, lost -- (unable to function; without help)

INDIRECT (VIA hopeless) -> hopeful -- (having or manifesting hope; "a line of people hopeful of obtaining tickets"; "found a hopeful way of attacking the problem")

Sense 3
helpless -- (unable to manage independently; "as helpless as a baby")

INDIRECT (VIA dependent) -> independent -- (free from external control and constraint; "an independent mind"; "a series of independent judgments"; "fiercely independent individualism")

Similarity of adj helpless

3 senses of helpless

Sense 1
helpless, incapacitated -- (lacking in or deprived of strength or power; "lying ill and helpless"; "helpless with laughter")
       => powerless (vs. powerful) -- (lacking power)

Sense 2
helpless, lost -- (unable to function; without help)
       => hopeless (vs. hopeful) -- (without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success; "in an agony of hopeless grief"; "with a hopeless sigh he sat down")

Sense 3
helpless -- (unable to manage independently; "as helpless as a baby")
       => dependent (vs. independent) -- (relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed; "dependent children"; "dependent on moisture")