impotence
noun
im·po·tence
ˈim-pə-tən(t)s 
: the quality or state of being impotent: such as
a
: lack of power, strength, or vigor : weakness
… the growing impotence of governments in the face of corporate willfulness and regional factionalism.—
Alan Wexelblat
Alan Wexelblat
b
: an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to engage in sexual intercourse because of failure to have or maintain an erection : erectile dysfunction
Synonyms
Examples of impotence in a Sentence
the congressional committee's essential impotence in affecting the management of the war was frustrating to its members
Recent Examples on the Web
The result is Shin Godzilla, a bone-dry satire of government impotence and self-important bureaucrats that’s the most realistic installment in the series since the original.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Russia quickly reopened the strait and eventually returned the ships, but the moves laid bare Ukraine’s naval impotence.
—Mark Cancian, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024
For prostate cancer, men who receive treatments can experience distressing side-effects such as impotence and incontinence, significantly affecting their quality of life.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
In the West Bank, where news channels feature constant coverage of the nearly 30,000 Gazans who have been killed by Israel’s attacks, the war has stirred feelings of solidarity — and impotence.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
In the 1920s, a quack named John Brinkley became a household name by implanting goat testicles into the bodies of patients complaining of infertility and impotence.
—David Klepper, Fortune Well, 31 Jan. 2024
Others do so due to the intensely personal nature of a disease that attacks the male reproductive system, and treatment that can cause side effects such as incontinence and impotence.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
Far from a global cabal cooking up a grand conspiracy, the World Economic Forum is a display of elite impotence.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024
Apparently turtles are very high in vitamin C and had long been believed to cure all kinds of illnesses and impotence.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2023
Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Russia quickly reopened the strait and eventually returned the ships, but the moves laid bare Ukraine’s naval impotence.
—Mark Cancian, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2024
For prostate cancer, men who receive treatments can experience distressing side-effects such as impotence and incontinence, significantly affecting their quality of life.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
In the West Bank, where news channels feature constant coverage of the nearly 30,000 Gazans who have been killed by Israel’s attacks, the war has stirred feelings of solidarity — and impotence.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
In the 1920s, a quack named John Brinkley became a household name by implanting goat testicles into the bodies of patients complaining of infertility and impotence.
—David Klepper, Fortune Well, 31 Jan. 2024
Others do so due to the intensely personal nature of a disease that attacks the male reproductive system, and treatment that can cause side effects such as incontinence and impotence.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
Far from a global cabal cooking up a grand conspiracy, the World Economic Forum is a display of elite impotence.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 18 Jan. 2024
Apparently turtles are very high in vitamin C and had long been believed to cure all kinds of illnesses and impotence.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impotence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near impotence
Cite this Entry
“Impotence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impotence. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impotence
noun
im·po·tence
ˈim-pət-ən(t)s
: the quality or state of being impotent
Medical Definition
impotence
noun
im·po·tence
ˈim-pət-ən(t)s
1
: the quality or state of not being potent
drug-resistant bacteria are a virulent indicator of the growing impotence of antibiotics
2
: an abnormal physical or psychological state of a male characterized by inability to engage in sexual intercourse because of failure to have or maintain an erection
called also erectile dysfunction
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