as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
the congressional committee's essential impotence in affecting the management of the war was frustrating to its members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 impotence
Tempest’s description evokes a dreamlike horror, laced with black humor:
Men were still stuck in the mud all over the battlefield, imploring help to lift them out : half crazy with the sense of their own impotence, and the enemy shelling. . . .
—
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
There have been encouraging signs in other games or even in consecutive games, only to have the Padres revert to being the offensive impatience and impotence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
The surgery to remove the prostate is often done outpatient, and has low risk for incontinence and impotence, but can cause erectile dysfunction, which can be treated by medication.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Compare this to the feckless impotence of Donald Trump or Andrew Cuomo.
—Steven W. Thrasher
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 13 July 2025
There have been encouraging signs in other games or even in consecutive games, only to have the Padres revert to being the offensive impatience and impotence.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
The surgery to remove the prostate is often done outpatient, and has low risk for incontinence and impotence, but can cause erectile dysfunction, which can be treated by medication.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Compare this to the feckless impotence of Donald Trump or Andrew Cuomo.
—Steven W. Thrasher
june 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotence
inability
Noun
-
In particular, the inability of some governments to stimulate their economies without taking on more debt could lead to a deeper recession that might trigger a significant drop in asset values (bad for real estate loans and private credit).—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The primary obstacle was the inability to build the necessary mechanical drive trains any smaller.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impotence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotence. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share