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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples of powerless in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Biden has been powerless to shift Netanyahu, partly because Israel has a different set of objectives and partly because the prime minister cannot afford to alienate far-right political voices that form part of his ruling coalition, Western officials and analysts say.
—
Dan De Luce, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024
And Donald was able to play by a completely different set of rules, and his political opponents were completely powerless.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
This is particularly true in the current environment wherein the NCAA is powerless to prevent NIL deals as recruiting inducements.
—Joe Sabin, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
As a mother watching Palestinian children starved and obliterated, my instinct is to feel utterly despondent, to feel powerless to make change.
—Stefanie Fox, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for powerless 
Dan De Luce, NBC News, 29 Sep. 2024
And Donald was able to play by a completely different set of rules, and his political opponents were completely powerless.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2024
This is particularly true in the current environment wherein the NCAA is powerless to prevent NIL deals as recruiting inducements.
—Joe Sabin, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
As a mother watching Palestinian children starved and obliterated, my instinct is to feel utterly despondent, to feel powerless to make change.
—Stefanie Fox, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
-
According to Orloff, most people on the receiving end of trauma dumping will feel anxious, stressed, helpless and even depressed after the conversation.David Oliver, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024
-
That's particularly troublesome for Buffy, who goes as a helpless 18th-century girl.Nicole Briese, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Not after a season of off-field adversity, including his 3-year-old son Max’s battle with a frightening case of Guillain-Barré syndrome in August, briefly leaving him paralyzed.Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
-
The takeaway here is not to become paralyzed by the fear of misinterpretation but rather to approach communication with humility and openness.Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
His efforts have been challenged by weak consumer sentiment in countries including the US and China.Owen Tripp, Fortune Europe, 24 Oct. 2024
-
Beijing can mitigate this with more stimulus, export controls and a weaker currency, although these steps carry risks such as capital flight, debt and further trade conflict.David Kirton, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Articles Related to powerless
Thesaurus Entries Near powerless
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share