powerless

adjective

pow·​er·​less ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs How to pronounce powerless (audio)
1
: devoid of strength or resources
powerless victims
2
: lacking the authority or capacity to act
was powerless to help
powerlessly adverb
powerlessness noun

Examples of powerless in a Sentence

I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Without cellphone service, and fearing that his driver might have a weapon, the then 32-year-old Ugandan felt powerless to escape. Amy Gunia, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 Steve Squall/Sumerian Pictures Check out what NPR is watching, reading and listening to this weekend: 🍿 Movies: The Queen of the Ring explores the rise of women's wrestling and how Mildred Burke could be a powerful champion in the ring and, at times, powerless outside of it. Brittney Melton, NPR, 7 Mar. 2025 Without these elements, even the most sophisticated algorithms are powerless. Tina Chakrabarty, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 Over 100,000 customers remained powerless by midafternoon, per Oncor. Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for powerless

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of powerless was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerless. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

powerless

adjective
pow·​er·​less ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs How to pronounce powerless (audio)
1
: lacking power, force, or energy
2
: lacking authority to act
powerlessly adverb
powerlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on powerless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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