powerless

[pou-er-lis]

adjective

1. unable to produce an effect.

   a disease against which modern medicine is virtually powerless.

   Synonyms: ineffective

2. lacking power pow power to act; helpless.

   His legs crumpled, and he was powerless to rise.

   Synonyms: infirm, prostrate, impotent, feeble

powerless

/ ˈpaʊəlɪs /

adjective

1. without power or authority

Other Word Forms

• powerlessly adverb
• powerlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of powerless¹

First recorded in 1545–55; power + -less

Example Sentences

“I think a lot of Democrats are frustrated and feel powerless, and so that rhetoric has this cathartic effect,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We ask PC Middleton if he can see why some people believe the police are powerless.

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That is what powerless people say to make doing nothing OK.

Read more on Salon

One of Carl's victims told police he felt "powerless" as there was "nothing I could do".

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Is the solution electing a governor for blue California, who — if not openly scorning the state’s millions of Republicans — is willing to render them politically powerless?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• defenseless 
• disenfranchised 
• helpless 
• impotent 
• incapable 
• ineffective 
• ineffectual 
• inert 
• paralyzed www.thesaurus.com
• passive 
• vulnerable 
• weak