as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
cursed his powerlessness to affect the outcome of his friend's life-threatening illness
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Recent Examples of powerlessness
There was a clear vocabulary to define consent within OneTaste, but one witness after another spoke of pressure and powerlessness.
—
Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Workers internalize powerlessness, hyper vigilance, and anxiety.
—Rahkim Sabree, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
An icy wave of powerlessness threatens to drown me.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Workers internalize powerlessness, hyper vigilance, and anxiety.
—Rahkim Sabree, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
An icy wave of powerlessness threatens to drown me.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerlessness
inability
Noun
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If the continuity, cohesion and familiarity offered by those who stayed does not prove enough to keep Leeds in the league, the inability to sell efficiently in the summer window will be seen as one of the failings.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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France meanwhile faces an inability to push through budget legislation and a public unwilling to accept the spending cuts or tax increases needed to change its economic fundamentals.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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