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
Perhaps the deepest conflict is not between red and blue, but between power and powerlessness.
—
George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Outcry is meant as an antidote to those feelings of powerlessness.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 24 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
George Packer, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Outcry is meant as an antidote to those feelings of powerlessness.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 24 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
-
Instead, there was a perceptible rise in militant attacks within Pakistan, accompanied by Kabul’s reluctance or inability to decisively act against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.—
Rabia Akhtar,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In the lawsuit, the former agents said their firings run afoul of FBI policy, which stipulates that agents can only be removed for cause, such as poor performance on the job, abuse of leave, misconduct, national security concerns or an inability to perform their duties.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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