as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation
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Recent Examples of powerless
But when my 15-year-old cousin suddenly died in her sleep from a preventable genetic disease, my family was powerless to save her.
—
Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
When Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey entered the courtroom set for Season 3, she was tasked with playing a new version of her usually confident and cunning character– one that was now afraid, powerless, and exceedingly unsure of herself.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025
And an injured Tatum, a fellow Justice Leaguer in this metaphor, was powerless to aid them.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
Feeling powerless is easy when people around you are bickering or creating tension.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
When Ginny & Georgia’s Brianne Howey entered the courtroom set for Season 3, she was tasked with playing a new version of her usually confident and cunning character– one that was now afraid, powerless, and exceedingly unsure of herself.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025
And an injured Tatum, a fellow Justice Leaguer in this metaphor, was powerless to aid them.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025
Feeling powerless is easy when people around you are bickering or creating tension.
—Dr. Cynthia J. Young, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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But most unforgettable are the fantastic driving sequences and the almost casually riveting performances — with James Taylor making for a perfectly intense (and surprisingly charismatic) lead, an ideal foil for the garrulous, slightly helpless Oates.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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The emotional emptiness can feel unbearable, and the practical demands only add to the turmoil, often leaving the surviving spouse feeling lost and helpless.—
David Kudla,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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In the past, contestants have admitted to experiencing a wide range of emotions in this particularly vulnerable moment: overwhelmed, nervous, paralyzed, and yeah, even terrified.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
13 June 2025
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Morgan learned that her husband was effectively paralyzed and unable to speak.—
David W. Brown,
New Yorker,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The inference here is that women’s speech is coded as weak and men’s, the direct opposite.—
Megan C. Reynolds,
Time,
27 June 2025
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Total textile and apparel exports declined from $44.4 billion in fiscal year 2022 to $35.8 billion in fiscal year 2024 (ending March 31), due to weak global demand and elevated production costs.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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