as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of powerless
There are a few ways climate conscious individuals aren’t completely powerless, said several experts in water use, artificial intelligence, data center placement and environmental sustainability.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Her parents comply with the new order, powerless in the face of big tech.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
How would a shy, relatively powerless teenager see this powerful, young super-woman out there changing the world?
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Players are moving schools every year searching for the highest bidder, while institutions feel powerless to stop the rapid change and the quest for more revenue.
—
Sen. Rand Paul Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Her parents comply with the new order, powerless in the face of big tech.
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
How would a shy, relatively powerless teenager see this powerful, young super-woman out there changing the world?
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Players are moving schools every year searching for the highest bidder, while institutions feel powerless to stop the rapid change and the quest for more revenue.
—
Sen. Rand Paul Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for powerless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerless
Adjective
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The leading interpretation is that Smilodon delivered a single precise bite to the throat or belly, severing something vital in a target that was already helpless.
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Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
Adjective
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The teen, who was crossing the street at the time, was run over twice by the truck, causing catastrophic injuries that left him paralyzed from the waist down, local ABC affiliate WKBW reported.
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Surely there were those in attendance, and those watching, who conjured horrible thoughts of Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley being left permanently paralyzed from the chest down after taking a vicious hit from the Oakland Raiders’ Jack Tatum during a 1978 preseason game.
Adjective
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Following a year of historically weak hiring in 2025, hiring rebounded this spring.
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In a weak free-agency class, centers Robert Williams III (Portland) and Mark Williams (Phoenix) are already off the market, each reportedly agreeing to return to their current teams.
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerless. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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