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
Immediate and permanent effects from treatment often include impotence and incontinence.
—
Gina Kolata, New York Times, 20 May 2025
That includes impotence, incontinence and life-threatening infections.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Viagra’s marketing shifted the language around the issue, redefining it as erectile dysfunction rather than impotence.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
For Brazil in particular, such impotence in the face of a geopolitical crisis at its border symbolizes the dramatic failure of decades of Brazilian foreign policy, in which Brasília sought to make itself into the region’s diplomatic and political leader.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2019
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Gina Kolata, New York Times, 20 May 2025
That includes impotence, incontinence and life-threatening infections.
—Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Viagra’s marketing shifted the language around the issue, redefining it as erectile dysfunction rather than impotence.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
For Brazil in particular, such impotence in the face of a geopolitical crisis at its border symbolizes the dramatic failure of decades of Brazilian foreign policy, in which Brasília sought to make itself into the region’s diplomatic and political leader.
—Oliver Stuenkel, Foreign Affairs, 31 Jan. 2019
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotence
inability
Noun
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Fever head coach Stephanie White was upset with how the referees officiated the game and about the inability to take control.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2025
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Predicate orders are based on the abandonment, abuse or neglect of that child by one or both parents, and the inability to reunify with one or both parents, based on those findings.—
Taylor Romine,
CNN Money,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impotence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotence. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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