1
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
most mules are impotent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impotent
The result continued a stretch of only one win in six across all competitions for a Miami team that began the funk looking impotent in attack, and has now resumed its 2024 habit of being wide open in defense.
—
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
The trade immediately improved the Kings’ offense and rescued an impotent power play, helping win 17 of its final 22 games to place second in the Pacific Division, the best finish of Blake’s term as general manager.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Marching in demonstrations and appearing on news programs quickly came to feel impotent.
—Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
Certain players, without their hair, could appear gaunt and impotent.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
The trade immediately improved the Kings’ offense and rescued an impotent power play, helping win 17 of its final 22 games to place second in the Pacific Division, the best finish of Blake’s term as general manager.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2025
Marching in demonstrations and appearing on news programs quickly came to feel impotent.
—Annie Hylton, The New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2025
Certain players, without their hair, could appear gaunt and impotent.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent
Adjective
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The invasive parasite has been nearing the Mexico–Texas border, threatening the area's cattle industry The U.S. and Mexico are working on numerous plans to combat New World screwworm infestations, including a plan to release sterile male flies to curb the species' spread.—
Moná Thomas,
People.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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The story follows a man trapped in an endless, sterile subway passageway, who sets out to find Exit 8.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Not long after, Brady looked helpless on his final snap as a Patriot, standing at the 1-yard line with nine seconds left because of that maneuver, which Stretch stole from Brady’s head coach and turned against them both.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
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As for the Aces, Vegas has lost two in a row and looked helpless last time out, losing 109-78 to the Minnesota Lynx.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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For the visual effects supervisors who were tasked with bringing the arctic horrors to life, their challenge was adding depth and value to a barren landscape.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
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Deep in the interior lies Askja, a vast volcanic caldera surrounded by a barren lava desert.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Others have options but feel paralyzed by the idea of entrusting their child to someone else.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
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Fowler, then a 24-year-old college student, was left paralyzed after a bus ran a stop sign in the West End and hit his car.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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And if tariffs only cause a one-time jump in prices, weaker purchasing power could slow the economy.—
Raul Elizalde,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Paradise lost Alaska and Crimea remain linked in some ways today, both viewed as historic Russian regions lost by weak leaders – Yeltsin, the first president of independent Russia, is reviled for recognizing Crimea as part of Ukraine after the USSR collapsed.—
Dan Morrison,
USA Today,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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