1
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring
most mules are impotent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose
an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of impotent
Certain players, without their hair, could appear gaunt and impotent.
—
Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In other words, Musk’s team was in effect rendering impotent an agency that had the power to regulate elements of his business.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2025
Riding a four-game winning streak and a two-goal lead into the second intermission, the Penguins looked impotent while being steamrolled in the third period on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena, falling 4-2 to the New York Islanders.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
The confrontation ends when Rick pulls his gun, takes a few impotent feints at his nemesis like a junior high bully who delights in watching his prey flinch, then frustratedly tips over Jim’s chair, grabs Frank, and leaves.
—Judy Berman, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
In other words, Musk’s team was in effect rendering impotent an agency that had the power to regulate elements of his business.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 18 Feb. 2025
Riding a four-game winning streak and a two-goal lead into the second intermission, the Penguins looked impotent while being steamrolled in the third period on Tuesday at PPG Paints Arena, falling 4-2 to the New York Islanders.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
The confrontation ends when Rick pulls his gun, takes a few impotent feints at his nemesis like a junior high bully who delights in watching his prey flinch, then frustratedly tips over Jim’s chair, grabs Frank, and leaves.
—Judy Berman, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent
Adjective
-
Between 1962 and 1975, the U.S. and Mexico bred and released more than 94 billion sterile flies to eradicate the pest, according to the USDA.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
2 July 2025
-
Subsequently, the agriculture department increased sterile fly deliveries and supported additional surveillance programs, which led to livestock imports restarting in February 2025.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Her precocity gives the novel its wit, but Shteyngart is also alert to the fact that a child, however bright, is fundamentally helpless. Not to mention desperate for her parents’ affection, which is in short supply for Vera.—
Mark Athitakis,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
-
Evans stood next to a small boat, clad in waders and helpless to stop the rising waters.—
Keisha Rowe,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
The jetliner heading to Nairobi lost control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and nose-dived into a barren patch of land.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
-
However, planting vegetation under solar panels—as opposed to the more traditional method of siting solar arrays on somewhat barren land—can help cool them.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
In 1995, Reeve suffered a spinal injury in a horse riding accident and became paralyzed from the neck down.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
11 July 2025
-
The Teddy Pendergrass thing [his first performance since a 1982 car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down] was overwhelming, very emotional.—
Gary Graff,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
Precious metals and mining stocks were weak across both markets.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
In October 2005, a Finnish court acquitted Gustafsson, ruling the evidence against him was too weak and inconsistent.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share