The image is apt, suggesting the innocent, pacific and largely defenseless Tibetans being clubbed by giant, powerful, merciless China.

But, he said, "they were selective of their targets, people largely defenseless, people who wouldn't complain, and if they did, they would not likely be believed."

That's when the superpowers agreed to stay vulnerable, each largely defenseless against the other's nuclear weaponry.

The exertion of overwhelming force upon a largely defenseless subject has always proven a splendid behavior modification tool, from the Spanish Inquisition through 20th-century Stalinism.

At this time, between April and September 1992, Muslims were largely defenseless against well-armed Serbian militia.

Pupae are usually immobile and are largely defenseless.

Were Ebola to mutate so as to become more highly transmissible, it could cause incredible death and suffering in every corner of a largely defenseless world.

Shaw was largely defenseless, as he was carefully nursing the car around.

It is an attack by tanks and artillery on a largely defenseless people whose leaders already have agreed to peace.

This caused a severe breakdown in the social structure, and the Northern Utina were largely defenseless against raids by the Creek and Yamasee allied to the English colonies to the north.