powerless

adjective

ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs How to pronounce powerless (audio)
Definition of powerlessnext
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of powerless So the people that are powerless and are being actively attacked and killed are not Jewish Israelis. — Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 And the other would plant a powerless family tree that would eventually produce the secretly villainous Tom, bent on revenge for centuries of dispossession. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026 Rocha has many friends in Washington, but his attempts to change González’s situation have left him feeling powerless. — Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026 Your frontline staff may feel powerless because an algorithm is making decisions that should be theirs. — Dr. Nore Salman, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
  1. helpless
  2. paralyzed
  3. weak
Adjective
  • The moment when the couple’s infant child is taken from them by the authorities is devastating, each of them capturing a sense of helpless isolation from themselves, their community and each other.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But the funding cuts mean more and more families like Zarmina's are left helpless.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of helpless
Adjective
  • Hasan was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot in the back by law enforcement and now uses a wheelchair.
    — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When her aunt Helena and paralyzed grandmother Regina arrive, the fragile boundaries between everyday life, ancestral superstition and Trina’s increasingly disturbing nightmares begin to collapse.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of paralyzed
Adjective
  • The makeup is top-tier, the Aaliyah swoop bang is swooping, and the jewelry accents stand out without doing too much, which is usually her weak spot.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Brennan's maiden win came at the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship in November against an admittedly weaker field.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of weak

Browse Nearby Words

powering
powerless
powerlessness
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Cite this Entry

“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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