IMPOTENT Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

impotent

adjective

ˈim-pə-tənt

Definition of impotent

as in sterile

not able to produce fruit or offspring most mules are impotent

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in helpless

unable to act or achieve one's purpose an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of impotent Decadence is the vanity of bodybuilders made impotent by steroids. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026 The Iranian regime is being rendered impotent. — FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026 Even in places that offer highly advanced health care, doctors have felt impotent trying to undo the damage when these horrors return. — Patricia Callahan, ProPublica, 19 Mar. 2026 This unsettling thriller about impotent (emotionally, literally) university professor Ali (Turkish star Ekin Koç), on the path to vengeance after the suspicious death of his mother, scored strong reviews (including my own) and the World Cinema Directing Award out of the Utah festival. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impotent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent

Adjective

Richet executes the whole thing with an almost sterile cleanliness.

— Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026
With that in mind, meeting the strict testing standards requires large amounts of sterile, single-use plastic.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of sterile

Adjective

Much of the lunar surface is pretty barren, but the South Pole, and Shackleton Crater in particular, offers some of the most coveted real estate there.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
Despite being named after a mineral that’s most often found in barren deserts, turquoise nails are making a splash this summer.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of barren

Adjective

The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.

— CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of weak

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impotency

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“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of impotent

adjective

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