impotent

adjective

im·​po·​tent ˈim-pə-tənt How to pronounce impotent (audio)
1
a
: not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : helpless
b
: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection
broadly : sterile
2
obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable
impotent noun
impotently adverb

Did you know?

A police department may be impotent to stop the flow of drugs into a neighborhood. A group of countries may be impotent to force another country to change its human-rights policies. The impotence of a prime minister may be shown by her inability to get an important piece of legislation passed. Impotent and impotence may also have a special meaning, when they refer to a man's inability to have sexual intercourse.

Examples of impotent in a Sentence

an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
Recent Examples on the Web Unfortunately, your options beyond some serious side eye are limited and often a little impotent. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 President Katalin Novak, Orban’s loyal but largely impotent ally, resigned last Saturday amid public furor over her decision in April 2023 to pardon the deputy director of a children’s home who had helped to cover up the abuse of underaged boys. Christian Edwards, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 Pittsburgh may be at the bottom of the division again but won’t be an impotent pushover even though its payroll of $89.7 million is the league’s lowest, using calculations by Cot’s. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Erased from the international conversation and subject to an increasingly impotent Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian public slumped into the depths of disillusionment and despair. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2024 You’re concerned but feeling impotent — worried that your individual actions aren’t enough to tame this towering beast? Judy Berlfein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Jan. 2024 Pin Pull, based on the ads that have instilled the most impotent ad-consumption frenzy in me, ramps up pretty impressively throughout 50 levels. Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2024 However, most VCs and their co-investors favor low-risk, low-cost technologies that are financially safe but impotent as far as climate change is concerned. Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Besides, the binary that torments Silverman’s characters is a false one: Is art utterly meaningless, useless, frivolous, impotent? Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impotent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- + potent-, potens potent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of impotent was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near impotent

Cite this Entry

“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impotent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

impotent

adjective
im·​po·​tent ˈim-pət-ənt How to pronounce impotent (audio)
1
: lacking in power or strength
2
: incapable of engaging in sexual intercourse
also : sterile sense 1
usually used of males
impotently adverb

Medical Definition

impotent

adjective
im·​po·​tent ˈim-pət-ənt How to pronounce impotent (audio)
1
: not potent
an impotent vaccine
2
: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection
broadly : sterile

More from Merriam-Webster on impotent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!