adj
Uncommon
powerless
POW-uh-luhs
Powerless (adj) means lacking the strength, authority, or ability to do something. Example: “Doctors felt powerless to help as the outbreak spread.”
adj
1
Lacking the strength, authority, or ability to do something.
"Doctors felt powerless to help as the outbreak spread."
"The committee is powerless to change the decision now."
2
Without electrical power.
"Half the city was left powerless after the storm."
How to use powerless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUnable to act, influence, or control a situation — or, literally, without electricity.
Common pairings
feel powerless
powerless to stop
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like powerless.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more powerless
- Superlative
- most powerless
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Doctors felt _____ to help as the outbreak spread.
Etymology
Formed from power + the suffix -less, meaning "without".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for powerless
See all rhymes for powerless →Frequently asked questions
What does “powerless” mean?
The word “powerless” means lacking the strength, authority, or ability to do something. In plain terms, unable to act, influence, or control a situation — or, literally, without electricity.
How do you pronounce “powerless”?
“Powerless” is pronounced POW-uh-luhs (/ˈpaʊɚləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “powerless” in a sentence?
Here is “powerless” used in a sentence: “Doctors felt powerless to help as the outbreak spread.”
What is another word for “powerless”?
Words with a similar meaning to “powerless” include mightless, strengthless, weak, vulnerable and impotent.
What is the opposite of “powerless”?
The opposite of “powerless” — its antonyms — are powerful and strong.
What part of speech is “powerless”?
“Powerless” is an adjective.
Is “powerless” a common word?
“Powerless” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “powerless” have?
“Powerless” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lacking the strength, authority, or ability to do something.
