as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the congressional committee's essential impotence in affecting the management of the war was frustrating to its members
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Recent Examples of impotence
The new procedures that will have AI determine their prior authorization decisions include nerve stimulation, steroid injections for pain management, cervical fusion, knee surgery, impotence treatment and some skin substitutes.
—
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
The bulk of Jack’s patents were for medical devices, among them a knife used for hair transplants and a prosthetic device for overcoming male impotence.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
That’s one full game of brilliance, and another full game of impotence.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
That there is impotence and cancer and infidelity and vanity and loss.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025
The bulk of Jack’s patents were for medical devices, among them a knife used for hair transplants and a prosthetic device for overcoming male impotence.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
That’s one full game of brilliance, and another full game of impotence.
—Zach Berman, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
That there is impotence and cancer and infidelity and vanity and loss.
—Lyz Lenz, Rolling Stone, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotence
inability
Noun
-
Punch was the best big man on the floor with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Edmonds’ inability to make an impact with just five points played a big role in TCU falling.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Rozman has been teaching chess for years, and in his experience, chess obliterates a kid’s inability to cope with defeat.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impotence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotence. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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