rudderless
/'rʌdəlis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking direction, guidance, or control: Describes a person, group, or situation that is aimless, adrift, or without a clear purpose or plan, as if a ship were without a rudder to steer it.
- Without leadership or a clear course: Implies a state of being lost, confused, or ineffective due to the absence of decisive leadership or a defined goal.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- After the sudden resignation of the CEO, the company felt rudderless for months.
- He felt rudderless after graduating, unsure of what career path to choose.
- The rudderless ship of state drifted toward crisis.
Advanced Usage
- "to be left rudderless": to be abandoned or left without guidance or leadership.
- The department was left rudderless after the manager's departure.
- Used figuratively to describe abstract concepts like policies, movements, or eras.
- The peace talks have been rudderless since the mediator withdrew.
Variants and Related Words
- Rudder (noun): A flat piece of wood or metal at the back of a boat or plane used for steering. This is the root word from which "rudderless" is derived.
- Adrift (adjective): Floating without being anchored or steered; often used synonymously with "rudderless" in a figurative sense.
- Aimless (adjective): Without purpose or direction.
Synonyms
- Adrift
- Aimless
- Directionless
- Purposeless
- Unmoored (figurative)
- Leaderless
Antonyms
- Directed
- Focused
- Purposeful
- Steered
- Guided
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Like a ship without a rudder: This is the direct metaphorical phrase from which the adjective "rudderless" is derived. It describes a state of complete lack of control or direction.
- Without her advice, he was like a ship without a rudder.