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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Recent Examples of powerless
Hybrid attacks are a cocktail of destabilization and deniability, unsettling populations and creating an impression of a strong aggressor and a powerless target.
—
Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Well, powerless is an important word because—Anne.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
But this shift doesn’t leave people powerless.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
They could be used to intimidate voters, and local officials would be powerless to stop it.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Liam Denning, Bloomberg, 12 Mar. 2026
Well, powerless is an important word because—Anne.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
But this shift doesn’t leave people powerless.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 2 Mar. 2026
They could be used to intimidate voters, and local officials would be powerless to stop it.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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The show’s name referred to their self-identification as helpless babies overwhelmed by the pressures of modernity, comforted only by coating themselves in fancy serums and moisturizers to recreate the peaceful, placental insulation of the womb.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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Then there’s the title character, who at first impression could be a helpless goldfish just waiting for any one of these alley cats to knock over her bowl and swallow her tail and all.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After colliding with a car that ended up in her racing path on Sunday, she's been left paralyzed from the neck down.—
Conor Wight,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Adriana Maria, 16, was competing in a wrestling match at Matawan’s Old Bridge High School in January when a move left her paralyzed.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Small hail is possible, and an isolated weak/brief tornado can't be ruled out.—
Mary Ours,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Sean McMorris, transparency, ethics and accountability program manager with California Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, said in an email Friday that heavy reliance on outside vendors can increase the risk of fraud or mismanagement if oversight is weak.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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