as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
claims that such restrictions on military interventions on foreign soil would render the nation an impuissant giant on the world stage
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Recent Examples of impuissant
The failsafe option of fake news
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the impuissant opposition, settled down in a comfortable chair, and readied himself for his regular, televised roasting.
—
Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017
Isobel Thompson, The Hive, 5 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impuissant
Adjective
-
That gave the last four minutes of the third quarter and the 36-27 fourth quarter a bit of a helpless feeling.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
In the meantime, Jones was stranded on an island of his own making Saturday, exasperated by another difficult game-winning shot that his wingspan was somehow helpless to affect on its own.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
These thermal baths in Palm Springs, stewarded by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for more than five millennia and long considered a portal to the spiritual underworld and a place of healing, welcomed my paralyzed body.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Salvador Murillo pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by a peace officer for shooting an unarmed man in the back in 2020, leaving him paralyzed.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
What can’t be easily seen or measured but can impact recovery as much as a weak muscle or stiff joint are the psychological aspects.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
After the worst of it, a similar but weaker storm was forecast to bring more rain through this weekend.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When her professor, predictably, leaves her high and dry, Margo drops out of college and makes an OnlyFans account as a last ditch effort to get some quick cash.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
-
And your card perks can step in when an airline leaves you high and dry during a delay.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While Parker was scheduled to face trial for the alleged murder of Thomas, court records show he had previously been found incompetent to stand trial in an earlier case.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In May 2025, Fraraccio was deemed incompetent to stand trial.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impuissant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impuissant. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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