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
Herrin’s final pitch to Abreu may not have been a ball, but the Guardians were powerless to check, having lost their second ABS challenge the previous inning.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
In the past, countries without significant fossil fuel resources were powerless to create energy within their borders.
—Kathleen Biggins, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
Marc makes an example of the penitent, powerless Jeanne, reminding the rest of his flock of the punishment for apostasy and using her rough time among the heathens as proof of why none under his control should ever want to trade his order for such modern sin and depravity.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Kristi Goncalves recalled feeling powerless and physically and emotionally overwhelmed before the suspect in her daughter’s case was arrested.
—Kevin Fixler
may 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
In the past, countries without significant fossil fuel resources were powerless to create energy within their borders.
—Kathleen Biggins, Sun Sentinel, 26 May 2026
Marc makes an example of the penitent, powerless Jeanne, reminding the rest of his flock of the punishment for apostasy and using her rough time among the heathens as proof of why none under his control should ever want to trade his order for such modern sin and depravity.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Kristi Goncalves recalled feeling powerless and physically and emotionally overwhelmed before the suspect in her daughter’s case was arrested.
—Kevin Fixler
may 11, Idaho Statesman, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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Marine Rousseau, 41, was taken into custody Thursday with Marc Ballabriga, 55, two days after the couple allegedly dumped her helpless 3- and 5-year-old children in a remote forest and left, according to Portuguese and French media.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
26 May 2026
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No electricity, ventilators In the ICU, nurse Tammy Fritchey feels helpless.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Three All Saints Episcopal School students lured a fourth student to participate in a TikTok challenge this month that became a catastrophic assault, leaving the boy unconscious for several minutes, temporarily paralyzed and with fractured vertebrae, according to a lawsuit filed this week.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
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Samuelson has been left paralyzed from the chest down due to the bullet lodged in his spine.—
Todd Feurer,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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As the story goes, attendance was weak, the weather was bad, and the tournament experience was just lacking.—
James Burky,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
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As many as 40 states combine one-party control with institutional barriers weak enough to fall to political pressure.—
Bruce Sibley,
Time,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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