as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation
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Recent Examples of powerless
President Andrew Johnson pardoned former Confederate leaders and restored to political power many of the old Confederate elites who proceeded to keep their former slaves poor, controlled, and powerless.
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Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Like focusing on a powerless pawn in chess, businesses can discover openings in competitors’ vulnerabilities or inefficiencies.
5.
—Boris Kreiman, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
California Attorney General Rob Bonta told CalMatters that the state may be powerless to stop the possibility of a new facility.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
Everyone should recognize that if the people cannot hold its government in check, then we as people are powerless.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for powerless 
Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
Like focusing on a powerless pawn in chess, businesses can discover openings in competitors’ vulnerabilities or inefficiencies.
5.
—Boris Kreiman, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
California Attorney General Rob Bonta told CalMatters that the state may be powerless to stop the possibility of a new facility.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
Everyone should recognize that if the people cannot hold its government in check, then we as people are powerless.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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Existing franchises that have successfully executed complex roster-building strategies hate seeing their hard work undone, helpless as key role players depart.Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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With the Anschluss came atrocities, as Hitler’s boys had their way with the helpless.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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But Musk scored victories by launching and catching a SpaceX rocket and implanting the first Neuralink chip into a paralyzed patient’s brain.Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 30 Dec. 2024
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James’ novella concerns a self-fulfilling prophecy about a paralyzed existence ending tragically with a protagonist realizing he’s wasted his life away due to fear of the unknown.Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Area roads could become dangerously slick Monday morning as a weak system is expected to bring freezing rain overnight, according to the National Weather Service.Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 22 Dec. 2024
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Houston will be a weaker team in 2025, but one Brown still believes can capture an American League West championship.Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 21 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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