powerless
adjective
pow·er·less
ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs 
1
: devoid of strength or resources
powerless victims
2
: lacking the authority or capacity to act
was powerless to help
powerlessly
adverb
powerlessness
noun
Examples of powerless in a Sentence
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even under the 1995 framework, regulators are not powerless.
—
Lenwood V. Long, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Weightlifting was an antidote to feeling powerless.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
More than a thousand miles away in New Delhi, Mohammad waits for his daughter, powerless to save her for a second time from the horrors faced by their community in Myanmar.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
The text is meant to illustrate (with humor) just how powerless some parents feel during the weaning process.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
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Lenwood V. Long, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Weightlifting was an antidote to feeling powerless.
—Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
More than a thousand miles away in New Delhi, Mohammad waits for his daughter, powerless to save her for a second time from the horrors faced by their community in Myanmar.
—Esha Mitra, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
The text is meant to illustrate (with humor) just how powerless some parents feel during the weaning process.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerless. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powerless
adjective
pow·er·less
ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs
1
: lacking power, force, or energy
2
: lacking authority to act
powerlessly
adverb
powerlessness
noun
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