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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impuissant
Adjective
-
Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless. Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
-
Evans stood next to a small boat, clad in waders and helpless to stop the rising waters.—
Keisha Rowe,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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For Maria, shifting health care policies have left her feeling paralyzed.—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
26 June 2025
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Heavenly Ever After After decades of working as a loan shark to support herself and her paralyzed husband, Lee Hae-sook (Kim Hye-ja) dies shortly after his passing and arrives in Heaven.—
Regina Kim,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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But Democrats see Earle-Sears as a far weaker candidate than Youngkin, operating a worse environment for the GOP.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
-
Max Monks was left high and dry when 16 Lots Brewing Co. shuttered its locations in Mason and Newport late last year.—
Keith Pandolfi,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
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All these groups and more will be left high and dry, rolling the dice with every major decision.—
Kristin Reilly,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Some seemed to be downright incompetent, Marquez told the jury.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 June 2025
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The defense has argued that others possibly killed O’Keefe inside that home and that the police were either too incompetent or corrupt to investigate that angle.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impuissant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impuissant. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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