impotent

American  

[im-puh-tuhnt] / ˈɪm pə tənt /

adjective

1. not potent; lacking power or ability.

   Synonyms:

   helpless, powerless

2. utterly unable (to do something).

   Synonyms:

   helpless, powerless

3. without force or effectiveness.

   Synonyms:

   weak, feeble, ineffective, ineffectual

4. lacking bodily strength or physically helpless.

5. (of a male) unable to attain or sustain a penile erection.

6. (especially of a male) sterile.

7. Obsolete. without restraint.

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noun

1. an impotent person.

   therapy for sexual impotents.

impotent British  

/ ˈɪmpətənt /

adjective

1. (when postpositive, often takes an infinitive) lacking sufficient strength; powerless

2. (esp of males) unable to perform sexual intercourse See erectile impotence

3. obsolete lacking self-control; unrestrained

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Other Word Forms

• impotence
  noun
• impotently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of impotent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin impotent-, stem of impotēns “without power over oneself or others”; equivalent to im- ² + potent ¹

Explanation

Impotent means lacking power or authority. Captain Bligh was impotent in the face of Christian's mutiny. It also refers to a man's inability to achieve or maintain an erection. If a man is sterile, or unable to reproduce, he is also called impotent. Those wacky ancients really knew how to mess with you — simply add the prefix im to the front of potent, which means "powerful," and you get its opposite — "powerless." While Viagra can help when the problems are physiological, an impotent leader has lost his ability to govern. No little blue pill will dig him out of that hole. It can also allude to a certain meaninglessness, such as the music critic who wrote that the easy listening genre of pop was so dull as to be "the soundtrack to impotence."

Example Sentences

"Impotent men were also described as frauds and imposters — as pretending to be something they were not," Breen told Salon.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2023

Impotent because the sad details of Neva’s life are spilled early, which makes any news to the characters no news to the reader.

From New York Times • Feb. 18, 2020

Imperfect Harvey Plus Impotent Offense Equals More Mets Futility The margin of error for the , in the midst of an offensive slumber, is minuscule.

From New York Times • May 12, 2013

The other is a fresh character for GTA V, a pathetic caped crusader named Impotent Rage who'll get his own series.

From The Guardian • May 2, 2013

Impotent and sullen, they are watching the operations of a process which, having reversed their policy and ruined their handiwork, is irresistibly moving towards a climax.

From The Promised Day Is Come by Shoghi Effendi

Related Words

• helpless
• inadequate
• incapable
• incompetent
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inept
• paralyzed
• powerless
• weak