as in inability
the lack of sufficient ability, power, or means
cursed his powerlessness to affect the outcome of his friend's life-threatening illness
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Recent Examples of powerlessness
There was a clear vocabulary to define consent within OneTaste, but one witness after another spoke of pressure and powerlessness.
—
Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Workers internalize powerlessness, hyper vigilance, and anxiety.
—Rahkim Sabree, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
An icy wave of powerlessness threatens to drown me.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Thessaly La Force, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Workers internalize powerlessness, hyper vigilance, and anxiety.
—Rahkim Sabree, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
An icy wave of powerlessness threatens to drown me.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerlessness
inability
Noun
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Overuse of the members of Generation K — Jason Isringhausen, Bill Pulsipher and Paul Wilson — during their rookie seasons is often blamed for the trio’s inability to stay healthy and effective.—
Jerry Beach,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Roberts pointed to the Dodgers’ inability to support Yamamoto with more than one run against 42-year-old Justin Verlander – on a solo home run by Michael Conforto in the seventh inning – as part of the problem.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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