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
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Both Tony and Dick are helpless children of the American Dream — one borne of the system, the other the boss’s literal son, each at the mercy of forces far greater than himself.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Footage then showed McCray carrying her, helpless and disoriented, to a laundry room on Connecticut Street.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Encounter with Warwick cop left him paralyzed.—
Kathleen Hill,
The Providence Journal,
14 Feb. 2026
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One of the bullets severed his spine, leaving him paralyzed on a respirator.—
Alice Gainer,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bangladesh’s woes have not improved much since Hasina’s ouster, with high inflation and a weak taka currency combining to erode real incomes for ordinary households.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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Pinterest posted disappointing fourth-quarter results and gave weak guidance for first-quarter sales.—
Liz Napolitano,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Kiffin instantly became the most hated man in Oxford after leaving the Rebels high and dry just as the College Football Playoff was set to begin, accepting a contract reportedly worth nearly $100 million.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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In response to these international deals leaving the U.S. high and dry, the Trump administration announced a new trade agreement with India on Monday.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
He was declared incompetent to stand trial at this time and the judge accepted that recommendation Friday.—
Riley Rourke,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Michael Skakel was convicted of killing Martha Moxley, but freed from prison after a court deemed his lawyer incompetent.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impuissant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impuissant. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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