impotent
adjective
not potent; lacking power or ability.
impotently
-
a word derived from
impotent.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People arriving at the airport now can watch as the empty trains shuttle impotently back and forth.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
It's amusing, of course, to watch Lake flail about impotently.
From Salon ● Dec. 7, 2022
But if coronavirus vaccines for my children mean the difference between nursing them through mild cold symptoms and impotently rocking a sobbing baby at midnight, I’ll take the shot every time.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 26, 2022
Groundskeepers jog impotently alongside the animal, which jumps up onto the wall again, then propels itself into the air in great vertical leaps.
From New York Times ● Aug. 18, 2021
The boss slashed impotently at newspapers, printed blurry slips and pasted items askew.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
