powerless
adjective
pow·er·less ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs 
1
: devoid of strength or resources
powerless victims
2
: lacking the authority or capacity to act
was powerless to help
powerlessly adverb
powerlessness noun
Examples of powerless in a Sentence
I wish I could help you, but I am powerless in this situation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the lines between exploiter and exploited, powerful and powerless, hero and villain blur in ways that are sometimes satirical, sometimes sad and occasionally thrilling. —
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Technically, voters aren’t supposed to consider Play-In games, which is why the vote is scheduled to be wrapped up before those games tip off, but rules are powerless against human nature. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Even the biggest stars are often powerless to change this system, as Taylor Swift discovered on the Eras Tour. —Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026 In the milliseconds before a collision, truck drivers are often powerless to avert disaster. —Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for powerless
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.
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Technically, voters aren’t supposed to consider Play-In games, which is why the vote is scheduled to be wrapped up before those games tip off, but rules are powerless against human nature. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Even the biggest stars are often powerless to change this system, as Taylor Swift discovered on the Eras Tour. —Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026 In the milliseconds before a collision, truck drivers are often powerless to avert disaster. —Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for powerless
Cite this Entry
“Powerless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/powerless. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powerless
adjective
pow·er·less ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ləs
1
: lacking power, force, or energy
2
: lacking authority to act
powerlessly adverb
powerlessness noun
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