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
The Brewers had their own ace to play, though, and the Boston bats looked powerless against Jacob Misiorowski in the early innings.
—
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
One of NDiaye’s great strengths is her ability to establish an initial set of circumstances with such authority that the reader is almost powerless to question them.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Local leaders are not powerless.
—Russell Hancock, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Tethered to a drug that kept him alive, but powerless.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
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.
Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
One of NDiaye’s great strengths is her ability to establish an initial set of circumstances with such authority that the reader is almost powerless to question them.
—Kristen Roupenian, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Local leaders are not powerless.
—Russell Hancock, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Tethered to a drug that kept him alive, but powerless.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerless. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
