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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of impotent
Sunny wants to clean up, but the prospect of this bot supposedly programmed by her dead husband touching their dead boy’s things is evidently the shock Suzie needed to shake her from impotent despair to useful rage.
—
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 10 July 2024
Thanks to the constraints imposed by the Zeitgeist, the Fed was omnipotent in principle but impotent in practice.
—Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2021
That’s what California gets for having a Republican Party almost fully impotent at the state level.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Everything getting in the way of Cesar’s big plans boils down to the ills of society: stagnant, corrupt forces in positions of power and the careless whims of the rich who benefit from these long-standing, impotent leaders.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impotent 
Chris Klimek, Vulture, 10 July 2024
Thanks to the constraints imposed by the Zeitgeist, the Fed was omnipotent in principle but impotent in practice.
—Sebastian Mallaby, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2021
That’s what California gets for having a Republican Party almost fully impotent at the state level.
—Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
Everything getting in the way of Cesar’s big plans boils down to the ills of society: stagnant, corrupt forces in positions of power and the careless whims of the rich who benefit from these long-standing, impotent leaders.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for impotent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent
Adjective
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Because isn’t that what effectively happens to an innie who will never again awaken in a sterile elevator?—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
17 Jan. 2025
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The vibe: Food Street's cozy atmosphere and thoughtful decor provide a welcome reprieve from its surrounding environment of sterile chain businesses.—
Andrew King,
Axios,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Just as the doctor who is no longer compassionate or caring towards his patients should no longer be a doctor—maybe the hopeless, helpless, resigned, and, worst of all, silent, healthcare leader who no longer feels change is his or her responsibility and personal mandate should step away.—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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Toward the end of the first quarter, Barkley made his presence known with a dashing run through a seemingly helpless Rams defense for a 62-yard touchdown to put the Eagles back on top 13-7.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN,
19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Anatolian mountains, where Ali tends to a barren garden, provide a sinister backdrop from which anything, not just a vagabond dropped as if from the sky, can suddenly appear.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
25 Jan. 2025
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The streets are barren, save for occasional officials’ vehicles.—
Katie Kilkenny,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Nature Medicine View 1 Images Brain-computer interfaces may allow paralyzed people to perform basic actions such as eating and typing, but … well, there's more to life than eating and typing.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
26 Jan. 2025
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The paralyzed participant has worked with researchers as far back as 2016, and expressed a particular interest in flying the virtual drone.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Its economy is already facing a deepening malaise, brought on by a property crisis, mounting government debt and weak consumer spending.—
David Pierson,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
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The team continues to play great with a different weak spot each season, so maybe that’s part of the excitement and drama of being a fan of the franchise now. · 5h 1m ago Thanks Chandler, good stuff as always.—
Chandler Rome,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near impotent
Cite this Entry
“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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