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
Outcry is meant as an antidote to those feelings of powerlessness.
—
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Young far-right politicians may well understand that returning to the nation-state means choosing powerlessness.
—Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
What is this feeling of powerlessness?
—Gregg Goldstein, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
This oscillation between rage at one’s own powerlessness and fantasies of violence is the song’s motive force.
—Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Dead Man’s Wire demonstrates the ultimate powerlessness of both captor and captive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Not for pleasure, but out of boredom, and our powerlessness before the Volgograd highway.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
So that fundamental feeling of powerlessness in the face of larger, ominous and obscure forces doesn’t feel very crazy or conspiratorial to me.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
There is no solution except to grow up, acknowledge our powerlessness, and come to terms with our despair.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
Young far-right politicians may well understand that returning to the nation-state means choosing powerlessness.
—Joseph De Weck, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
What is this feeling of powerlessness?
—Gregg Goldstein, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
This oscillation between rage at one’s own powerlessness and fantasies of violence is the song’s motive force.
—Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Dead Man’s Wire demonstrates the ultimate powerlessness of both captor and captive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Not for pleasure, but out of boredom, and our powerlessness before the Volgograd highway.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
So that fundamental feeling of powerlessness in the face of larger, ominous and obscure forces doesn’t feel very crazy or conspiratorial to me.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
There is no solution except to grow up, acknowledge our powerlessness, and come to terms with our despair.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerlessness
inability
Noun
-
But its lofty position is threatened by, among other things, America’s own chronic inability to keep a balanced budget, and the administration’s trade policy is part of what’s holding it back from doing so.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Rust, more than most of the Penguins, has taken the franchise’s recent inability to reach the postseason especially hard in recent years.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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