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
The late Pope Francis advocated for the powerless, for those who have so little and yet are villainized by people in positions of authority.
—
J.p. Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Anyone who disagrees with his policies will be exposed, blackmailed, or worse (have their head crushed to a pulp in front of powerless witnesses).
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
The board was powerless to block or review the demolition application under the resiliency law.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
J.p. Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Anyone who disagrees with his policies will be exposed, blackmailed, or worse (have their head crushed to a pulp in front of powerless witnesses).
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
The board was powerless to block or review the demolition application under the resiliency law.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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After playing just one division foe over the first six weeks of the season — a three-game sweep of the utterly helpless Colorado Rockies last month — the Dodgers are finally getting into the meat of their division schedule.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
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And Nuggets backup big DeAndre Jordan looked largely helpless at the rim, as the Clippers’ offense got going behind a flurry of hooks from Zubac and waltzes to the rim from Bogdanovic and Kawhi Leonard.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Caring for a paralyzed dog has not been without its challenges.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
12 May 2025
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But some economists doubt that resilience will persist, with employers feeling paralyzed by Trump’s confusing on-again off-again tariff blitz.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
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Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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