as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of powerless
But no international force has yet been deployed, and the governance committee that has been appointed is largely powerless.
—
Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Twin Cities history holds many lessons for civic culture-building in a divided time, when many feel powerless and hopeless.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
This behavior is designed to make the people feel powerless and the governing authority impenetrable.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
This predatory dynamic leaves consumers powerless and leads to market failure.
—Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Twin Cities history holds many lessons for civic culture-building in a divided time, when many feel powerless and hopeless.
—Harry Boyte, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
This behavior is designed to make the people feel powerless and the governing authority impenetrable.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
This predatory dynamic leaves consumers powerless and leads to market failure.
—Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Pinterest posted disappointing fourth-quarter results and gave weak guidance for first-quarter sales.—
Liz Napolitano,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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