impotent

[ im-puh-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. not potent; lacking power or ability.

   Synonyms: helpless, powerless

2. utterly unable (to do something).

   Synonyms: helpless, powerless

3. without force or effectiveness.

   Synonyms: weak, feeble, ineffective, ineffectual

4. lacking bodily strength or physically helpless.
5. (of a male) unable to attain or sustain a penile erection.
6. (especially of a male) sterile.
7. Obsolete. without restraint.

noun

1. an impotent person:

   therapy for sexual impotents.

impotent

/ ˈɪmpətənt /

adjective

1. when postpositive, often takes an infinitive lacking sufficient strength; powerless
2. (esp of males) unable to perform sexual intercourse See erectile impotence
3. obsolete.
   lacking self-control; unrestrained

Derived Forms

• ˈimpotently, adverb
• ˈimpotence, noun

Other Words From

• impo·tent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of impotent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin impotent-, stem of impotēns “without power over oneself or others”; equivalent to im- ² + potent ¹

Example Sentences

Biden imploded and appeared to be impotent before Trump’s barrage of lies and manic energy.

From Salon

“A complete lack of leadership from an impotent president.”

From New York Times

Israel showed the world that its military is too formidable to challenge and that Iran is impotent against it.

From New York Times

Divesting of power from democratically elected officials has left minsters "impotent" in the face of a bloated civil service, she said.

From BBC

It is a long time since City were so impotent at home, unable to lay a glove on Arsenal in the areas that mattered.

From BBC

Related Words

• helpless
• inadequate
• incapable
• incompetent
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• inept
• paralyzed
• powerless
• weak