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
The Wolf’s nudity could be read as a metaphor for his acceptance of his powerlessness, his willingness to listen with humility, and his purity.
—
Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Violence can come from feelings of powerlessness and desperation.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Forced into an uneasy alliance with a sharp-witted poacher living on the margins of society (Kellyman), the two women fight back, turning their powerlessness into strength through violence, wit, and defiance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Violence can come from feelings of powerlessness and desperation.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
Forced into an uneasy alliance with a sharp-witted poacher living on the margins of society (Kellyman), the two women fight back, turning their powerlessness into strength through violence, wit, and defiance.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2026
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerlessness
inability
Noun
-
But Iraq’s inability to keep the margin of defeat narrow when that very well could be the tiebreaker for one of the top eight third-place spots showed a bit of naivety that could prove very damaging.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Rashada’s unlikely—if not deeply ironic—windfall highlights the secondary market for House claims that has emerged during the post-settlement limbo of antitrust litigation over college athletes’ long-standing inability to profit from their name, image and likeness rights.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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