IMPUISSANT Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

impuissant

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpwi-sᵊnt

Definition of impuissant

as in helpless

unable to act or achieve one's purpose claims that such restrictions on military interventions on foreign soil would render the nation an impuissant giant on the world stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impuissant

Adjective

But passengers don’t have to be helpless during these stressful ordeals.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
Technology can erode privacy, concentrate power, damage the environment, and leave people feeling helpless.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of helpless

Adjective

This process can be even more pronounced in smaller galaxies in which the gravitational influence is weaker, and the black holes are less likely to be strongly bound to the galactic center.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Takaichi’s spending plans have drawn attention, raising concerns of debt sustainability and a weaker yen which have pushed Japanese bond yields to multidecade highs.

— Chloe Taylor,Lee Ying Shan,Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of weak

Adjective

The unofficial end of summer left some boaters in Minnesota high and dry over Labor Day weekend.

— Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
While the official logline for Tracker‘s fourth season hasn’t been released, fans can expect to witness the fallout from Russell’s decision to leave Colter high and dry at the end of season 3.

— Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Definition of high and dry

Adjective

In the memo, which was filed under seal in support of a prior motion to disqualify the judge, Rauch described his goal as not to show that Kohberger was incompetent, but to bolster his argument that the judge may be biased.

— Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
If he were found incompetent, he would have been sent to a treatment facility until he could be reevaluated.

— Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of incompetent

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

impuissance

impuissant

impulse

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Impuissant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impuissant. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of impuissant

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tittle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes