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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of powerless
J.p. Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Anyone who disagrees with his policies will be exposed, blackmailed, or worse (have their head crushed to a pulp in front of powerless witnesses).
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
The board was powerless to block or review the demolition application under the resiliency law.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Adjective
The late Pope Francis advocated for the powerless, for those who have so little and yet are villainized by people in positions of authority.
—J.p. Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025
The system has been designed to keep us powerless, but that ends now.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Anyone who disagrees with his policies will be exposed, blackmailed, or worse (have their head crushed to a pulp in front of powerless witnesses).
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
The board was powerless to block or review the demolition application under the resiliency law.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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After playing just one division foe over the first six weeks of the season — a three-game sweep of the utterly helpless Colorado Rockies last month — the Dodgers are finally getting into the meat of their division schedule.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
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And Nuggets backup big DeAndre Jordan looked largely helpless at the rim, as the Clippers’ offense got going behind a flurry of hooks from Zubac and waltzes to the rim from Bogdanovic and Kawhi Leonard.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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His attorneys recently filed a motion to withdraw from the case, citing their inability to persuade him to comply with the court’s orders.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
1 May 2025
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The result was a late Timberwolves run and an inability to secure key stops down the stretch, sealing the game.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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That kind of volatility, which has rattled financial markets and paralyzed businesses, simply wasn’t present under any other administration in history.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
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Bustillo’s spinal cord was severed, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.—
James Wilkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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