disempower

[ dis-em-pou-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to deprive of influence, importance, etc.:

   Voters feel they have become disempowered by recent political events.

disempower

/ ˌdɪsɪmˈpaʊə /

verb

1. tr to deprive (a person) of power or authority

Derived Forms

• ˌdisemˈpowerment, noun

Other Words From

• disem·power·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disempower¹

First recorded in 1805–15; dis- ¹ + empower

Example Sentences

We must inspire and grow the participation of fair-minded voters especially in places where we have seen aggressive tactics to silence and disempower our communities.

From Washington Blade

There are emotional reactions that empower you and those that disempower you.

From Time

This, critics say, is what happens when you disempower the police, remove them from dominion over any and everything in a geographic area.

From Time

He and other Republicans are cynically using the rhetoric of disempowerment to stoke a sense of victimization in conservative voters to justify actual efforts to disempower countless others through voter suppression.

From Washington Post

He could use the filibusterproof reconciliation process to cut all of its spending, and effectively disempower the legislation.

From The Daily Beast