impotent

adjective

im·po·tent | \ ˈim-pə-tənt

Definition of impotent

1a : 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

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Examples of impotent in a Sentence

an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead

Recent Examples on the Web

As their pain increases, so too should our impatience with any ideology that renders us too cold to listen or too impotent to act. — David Brog, National Review, "What Bret Stephens Gets Wrong about National Conservatives," 1 Aug. 2019 Nigeria, a democracy whose government—for all its flaws—is far less impotent than Somalia’s, is bound to resent foreign navies or mercenaries off its coast. — The Economist, "The Gulf of Guinea is now the world’s worst piracy hotspot," 29 June 2019 That has left many non-Conservatives watching the race with impotent frustration. — Washington Post, "Who will choose the next UK leader? Mostly older white men," 22 June 2019 Brady, stewing in impotent rage, finally calls to Lake Oswego police to blame the crime on Tabitha, Elodie, and Moe. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: Netflix’s Trinkets Recap," 15 June 2019 As the torrent of verbiage washed over the hearing room, fellow Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy could only glower at Biden in impotent frustration. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "No Joe!," 10 June 2019 At this point in life, I’m habituated to the inevitability that the most impotent mid-season episodes of a Netflix drama will also be the ones that are 57 minutes long. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "The TV Is Too Damn Long," 9 June 2019 The Mahatma viewed with even more impotent sorrow the drifting away of Muslims from the Congress movement, which had set out in the 1880s to represent all Indians without distinction of creed. — Ferdinand Mount, WSJ, "‘Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World’ Review: The Prophet as Politician," 1 Nov. 2018 Colon merely has created a simplistic, and thus impotent, paper tiger here; the political and pedagogical force of her work would be far greater if her villain had at least a touch of complexity. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "'Tilikum' tells dark story of a captive orca at SeaWorld," 29 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'impotent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.