Someone who is powerless is unable to control or influence events.
If you don't have money, you're powerless.
...political and economic systems that keep women poor and powerless.
Synonyms: defenceless, vulnerable, dependent, subject More Synonyms of powerless
powerlessnessuncountable noun
If we can't bring our problems under control, feelings of powerlessness often ensue.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE to-infinitive]
If you are powerlessto do something, you are completely unable to do it.
People are being murdered every day and I am powerless to stop it.
He was sympathetic, but powerless to help.
powerless in British English
(ˈpaʊəlɪs)
adjective
without power or authority
Derived forms
powerlessly (ˈpowerlessly)
adverb
powerlessness (ˈpowerlessness)
noun
powerless in American English
(ˈpaʊərlɪs)
adjective
without power; weak, feeble, unable, not empowered, etc.
Derived forms
powerlessly (ˈpowerlessly)
adverb
powerlessness (ˈpowerlessness)
noun
Examples of 'powerless' in a sentence
powerless
We eat because we are unhappy and yet we feel powerless.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is easy to watch the grim footage and feel powerless.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
These are things that we are powerless to control.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Your boyfriend saw you anguished and felt powerless to help.
The Sun (2008)
As family members we have felt powerless to influence the situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They are not only powerless to stop the trade but culpable.
The Sun (2015)
In this case they are also powerless to act.
The Sun (2008)
They seem powerless to do anything about it.
The Sun (2008)
So why are we so powerless to control ourselves?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This natural tragedy was so huge we were powerless to help.
The Sun (2013)
The toothless regulator appears powerless to stop the alleged cartel of energy companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Councils are powerless to resist these regional targets.
The Sun (2008)
Cops say they are powerless to act because it is a civil matter.
The Sun (2012)
But neither they nor any of the others are powerless to control their behaviour.
The Sun (2011)
But they were powerless to resist the champions.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
By most accounts he is headed for a decisive victory that the mainstream parties seem powerless to avert.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His stepfather still refuses to speak to him and although his mother would like to help she is powerless.
various & introduction by Deirdre Chapman A Roomful of Birds - Scottish short stories 1990 (1990)
The other one looked completely powerless.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You become powerless, unable to resist the lure of the repeat button.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
And you feel powerless, unable to regain control of something you own.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
People have felt their democratic rights damaged because they have found themselves powerless to influence or affect the outcome in the services that matter most to them.
Redwood, John The Global Marketplace (1993)
Some feel they are personally powerless to bring them about, while others use false promises as a sort of motivational technique that backfires.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He announced that he was suspending his campaign and flew to Washington to broker a rescue package that in reality he was powerless to bring.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Britain is not entirely powerless to influence China's behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
One moment I felt completely powerless.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
powerless
British English: powerless ADJECTIVE
Someone who is powerless is unable to control or influence events.
If you don't have money, you're powerless.
American English: powerless
Brazilian Portuguese: impotente
Chinese: 不能的
European Spanish: impotente
French: impuissant
German: machtlos
Italian: impotente
Japanese: 無力な
Korean: 무력한
European Portuguese: impotente
Latin American Spanish: impotente
Chinese translation of 'powerless'
powerless
(ˈpauəlɪs)
adj
无(無)力的 (wúlì de)
to be powerless to do sth对(對)做某事无(無)能为(為)力 (duì zuò mǒushì wú néng wéi lì)
(adjective)
Definition
without power or authority; unable to act
We were powerless to do anything to stop them.
Synonyms
defenceless
a leader who would leave the country isolated and defenceless
vulnerable
Their tanks would be vulnerable to attack from the air.
dependent
I refuse to be dependent, despite having a baby to care for.
subject
tied
ineffective
They are burdened with an ineffective leader.
unarmed
The robber was unarmed.
disenfranchised
over a barrel (informal)
disfranchised
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dependent
Definition
depending on a person or thing for aid or support
I refuse to be dependent, despite having a baby to care for.
Synonyms
reliant,
vulnerable,
helpless,
incapable,
powerless,
needy,
weak,
defenceless
in the sense of ineffective
Definition
having no effect or an inadequate effect
They are burdened with an ineffective leader.
Synonyms
inefficient,
inadequate,
useless (informal),
poor,
weak,
pathetic,
powerless,
unfit,
feeble,
worthless,
inept,
impotent,
ineffectual
in the sense of unarmed
Definition
not carrying any weapons
The robber was unarmed.
Synonyms
defenceless,
helpless,
unprotected,
without arms,
unarmoured,
weaponless
Synonyms of 'powerless'
powerless
Explore 'powerless' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vulnerable
Definition
exposed to attack
Their tanks would be vulnerable to attack from the air.