as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of powerless
Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
As in years past, Democrats were powerless to stop Republican bills and were often knocked back in committee, even on issues with bipartisan agreement.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
If convicted of racketeering, the government would also be able to seize all of Combs' assets, leaving him behind bars and powerless, Mears said.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 July 2025
While the Supreme Court has ruled the president is powerless to fire him, Trump may name a new chair early in a bid to undermine Powell, whose term has 11 months left to run, The Wall Street Journal reported.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Adjective
Democrats united against the legislation, but were powerless to stop it.
—Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
As in years past, Democrats were powerless to stop Republican bills and were often knocked back in committee, even on issues with bipartisan agreement.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
If convicted of racketeering, the government would also be able to seize all of Combs' assets, leaving him behind bars and powerless, Mears said.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 1 July 2025
While the Supreme Court has ruled the president is powerless to fire him, Trump may name a new chair early in a bid to undermine Powell, whose term has 11 months left to run, The Wall Street Journal reported.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless. Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
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Evans stood next to a small boat, clad in waders and helpless to stop the rising waters.—
Keisha Rowe,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Her recommendation is not to fight or try to control their inability to sit still and be quiet.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
24 June 2025
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Our inability to record these sweltering spells in a more conspicuous way is shared by the natural world, which rarely shows the marks of an episode of hot weather in any lasting way.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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For Maria, shifting health care policies have left her feeling paralyzed.—
Kff Health News,
Oc Register,
26 June 2025
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Heavenly Ever After After decades of working as a loan shark to support herself and her paralyzed husband, Lee Hae-sook (Kim Hye-ja) dies shortly after his passing and arrives in Heaven.—
Regina Kim,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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In October 2005, a Finnish court acquitted Gustafsson, ruling the evidence against him was too weak and inconsistent.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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