impuissant

adjective

im·​puis·​sant (ˌ)im-ˈpwi-sᵊnt 

(ˌ)im-ˈpyü-ə-sənt;

ˌim-pyü-ˈi-sᵊnt

: weak, powerless

Did you know?

Both the adjective "impuissant" and the noun "impuissance" came to English from Middle French. They are derived from the prefix in- (meaning "not") and the noun "puissance," which means "power" and is a word in English in its own right. Puissance derives from the verb poer, meaning "to be able or "to be powerful," and is ultimately related to the same Latin roots that gave us words such as "power" and "potent." While both "puissant" and "impuissance" first appeared in English during the 15th century, "impuissant" did not make its first appearance in our language until 1629.

Synonyms

• hamstrung
• handcuffed
• helpless
• high and dry
• hog-tied
• impotent
• paralyzed
• powerless
• weak

Examples of impuissant in a Sentence

claims that such restrictions on military interventions on foreign soil would render the nation an impuissant giant on the world stage

Recent Examples on the Web

The failsafe option of fake news Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the impuissant opposition, settled down in a comfortable chair, and readied himself for his regular, televised roasting. —Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017

The failsafe option of fake news Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the impuissant opposition, settled down in a comfortable chair, and readied himself for his regular, televised roasting. —Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!