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.

Now that economic impuissance appears to be more a permanent condition than a passing crisis, diCorcia’s series feels increasingly eschatological, as if America had passed directly from Eden to the Last Judgment.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 4, 2015

But the papers, diagrams, and mathematical formulae had no sooner been spread upon the table under the knowing eyes of the learned members of the council, than a chill of conscious impuissance ran through them.

From The Second Deluge by Serviss, Garrett Putman

But Balzac wisely says: 'Qui dit doute, dit impuissance.'

From Whirlpools A Novel of Modern Poland by Sienkiewicz, Henryk

Demonologie ou Traitte des Demons et Sorciers: De leur puissance et impuissance: Par Fr.

From Among My Books First Series by Lowell, James Russell

I knew, impotent as I was, that I could play it—I could feel the sense of power tingling through my own impuissance.

From The Making Of A Novelist An Experiment In Autobiography by Murray, David Christie