as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
claims that such restrictions on military interventions on foreign soil would render the nation an impuissant giant on the world stage
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Recent Examples of impuissant
The failsafe option of fake news
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the impuissant opposition, settled down in a comfortable chair, and readied himself for his regular, televised roasting.
—
Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017
Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impuissant
Adjective
-
That gave the last four minutes of the third quarter and the 36-27 fourth quarter a bit of a helpless feeling.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In the meantime, Jones was stranded on an island of his own making Saturday, exasperated by another difficult game-winning shot that his wingspan was somehow helpless to affect on its own.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The men who attacked her were strangers, and the shooting left her paralyzed at 35.—
Hannah McIlree,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Greg Durso, who is now 40, suffered a sledding accident in 2009 that left him paralyzed from the waist down.—
Tim Neville,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What can’t be easily seen or measured but can impact recovery as much as a weak muscle or stiff joint are the psychological aspects.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
After the worst of it, a similar but weaker storm was forecast to bring more rain through this weekend.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When her professor, predictably, leaves her high and dry, Margo drops out of college and makes an OnlyFans account as a last ditch effort to get some quick cash.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And your card perks can step in when an airline leaves you high and dry during a delay.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The sequel strips Grace of what made her special and merely pays lip service to the first one’s worldview, representing the antagonists as generically incompetent hedonists.—
Michael Ordoña,
San Francisco Chronicle,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The war in Iran is the result of incompetent diplomacy.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impuissant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impuissant. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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