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
This oscillation between rage at one’s own powerlessness and fantasies of violence is the song’s motive force.
—
Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Dead Man’s Wire demonstrates the ultimate powerlessness of both captor and captive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Not for pleasure, but out of boredom, and our powerlessness before the Volgograd highway.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
El-Amin said the atmosphere was one of powerlessness and confusion.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
So that fundamental feeling of powerlessness in the face of larger, ominous and obscure forces doesn’t feel very crazy or conspiratorial to me.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
One year before Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire published their compendium of Greek myths, Cicellis released her second work of fiction, The Way to Colonos, which ruthlessly dramatizes the limits of individual freedom and the agony of facing one’s powerlessness.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
There is no solution except to grow up, acknowledge our powerlessness, and come to terms with our despair.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Dope Sick Love gets its power from its powerlessness.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Dead Man’s Wire demonstrates the ultimate powerlessness of both captor and captive.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
Not for pleasure, but out of boredom, and our powerlessness before the Volgograd highway.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
El-Amin said the atmosphere was one of powerlessness and confusion.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
So that fundamental feeling of powerlessness in the face of larger, ominous and obscure forces doesn’t feel very crazy or conspiratorial to me.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 Jan. 2026
One year before Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire published their compendium of Greek myths, Cicellis released her second work of fiction, The Way to Colonos, which ruthlessly dramatizes the limits of individual freedom and the agony of facing one’s powerlessness.
—Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
There is no solution except to grow up, acknowledge our powerlessness, and come to terms with our despair.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Dope Sick Love gets its power from its powerlessness.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerlessness
inability
Noun
-
Although the Bobcats scored more points in the paint, their inability to stop the Eagles' forward on the interior led to excessive fouling.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Tua’s inability to perform against the league’s top teams is a major drawback.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Powerlessness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerlessness. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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