powerless
adjective
pow·er·less
ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs 
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
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
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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
Articles Related to powerless
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerless. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powerless
adjective
pow·er·less
ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs
1
: lacking power, force, or energy
2
: lacking authority to act
powerlessly
adverb
powerlessness
noun
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