1
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
most mules are impotent
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impotent
So there’s a feeling of resentment and inadequacy in Laszlo’s presence, and his strength as a character makes Attila feel impotent.
—
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The stakes are also high for the Trump Administration, which risks appearing impotent shortly after taking power.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Ten years into the Trump era, our Democratic avatars still feel obligated to signal their impotent superiority to the person who actually runs the place.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
Biden was impotent in the face of Putin’s Ukraine assault, and China has been flexing its muscles with minimal consequence.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The stakes are also high for the Trump Administration, which risks appearing impotent shortly after taking power.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Ten years into the Trump era, our Democratic avatars still feel obligated to signal their impotent superiority to the person who actually runs the place.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2025
Biden was impotent in the face of Putin’s Ukraine assault, and China has been flexing its muscles with minimal consequence.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent
Adjective
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Given this political trend, Sanders has made a terrific-looking but sterile movie.—
Armond White,
National Review,
26 Feb. 2025
-
Surrounded by a blank white glare, Amato would open sterile metal tubes to capture the mist.—
Carl Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In Texarkana, the year before, men and boys amused themselves by cutting off strips of flesh and thrusting knives into their helpless victim.—
Liz Tracey,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Feb. 2025
-
Amick stars alongside James Spader as a beguiling beauty whom Spader is helpless before.—
Jordan Crucchiola,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Such descriptions enliven the book, and capture Shubin’s reverence for both the beauty and the mysteries hidden in the cold, barren tundra.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
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For most of its barren interior, life is an afterthought—nature’s great white void, frozen in time.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
John Lithgow plays an elderly care home tyrant out to drive an arrogant and partially paralyzed judge, played by Geoffrey Rush, insane in the official trailer for The Rule of Jenny Pen, which dropped Monday.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
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The cousin also was hit with gunfire and became paralyzed, prosecutors said.—
Sara Schilling,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Salesforce shares fell in extended trading Wednesday on mixed quarterly results and weak guidance.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
27 Feb. 2025
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There aren’t enough affordable ones and the charging infrastructure is weak.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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