impotent
adjective
im·po·tent ˈim-pə-tənt 
1
a
: not potent : lacking in power, strength, or vigor : helpless
b
: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection
broadly : sterile
2
obsolete : incapable of self-restraint : ungovernable
impotent noun
impotently adverb
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A police department may be impotent to stop the flow of drugs into a neighborhood. A group of countries may be impotent to force another country to change its human-rights policies. The impotence of a prime minister may be shown by her inability to get an important piece of legislation passed. Impotent and impotence may also have a special meaning, when they refer to a man's inability to have sexual intercourse.
Synonyms
- barren
- fruitless
- infertile
- sterile
- unfruitful
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead
Recent Examples on the Web Without the modulation of emotional peaks and valleys — without moments of quietude, against which to contrast all of Brian’s pointless, impotent rage — the film gradually grows tedious. 
Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Reports rarely mention the pain inflicted on Russia by Western sanctions, which are universally dismissed as impotent. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 Reports rarely mention the pain inflicted on Russia by Western sanctions, which are universally dismissed as impotent. BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 With political institutions impotent or indifferent, disillusionment becomes pervasive. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 18 May 2022 On the other hand, why these expressions of impotent outrage? Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 25 May 2022 Foiled again by an impotent offensive performance, they were shut out for the third time in their last five games at American Family Field, this time by a score of 10-0 at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 8 June 2022 In truth, the technocrats and the managers are almost always impotent in the face of the authoritarian state. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 Kliff Kingsbury is 8-17 over the final eight games of the season and playoffs in his NFL career, which includes an impotent 34-11 Wild Card loss last January. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2022 See More
Michael O'sullivan, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Reports rarely mention the pain inflicted on Russia by Western sanctions, which are universally dismissed as impotent. New York Times, 21 Aug. 2022 Reports rarely mention the pain inflicted on Russia by Western sanctions, which are universally dismissed as impotent. BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 With political institutions impotent or indifferent, disillusionment becomes pervasive. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 18 May 2022 On the other hand, why these expressions of impotent outrage? Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 25 May 2022 Foiled again by an impotent offensive performance, they were shut out for the third time in their last five games at American Family Field, this time by a score of 10-0 at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 8 June 2022 In truth, the technocrats and the managers are almost always impotent in the face of the authoritarian state. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 Kliff Kingsbury is 8-17 over the final eight games of the season and playoffs in his NFL career, which includes an impotent 34-11 Wild Card loss last January. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impotent-, impotens, from in- + potent-, potens potent
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
impotent
adjective
im·po·tent ˈim-pə-tənt
: lacking in power, ability, or strength
an impotent medicine
Medical Definition
impotent
adjective
im·po·tent ˈim-pət-ənt
1
: not potent
an impotent vaccine
2
: unable to engage in sexual intercourse because of inability to have and maintain an erection
broadly : sterile
impotent
adjective
1
as in sterile
not able to produce fruit or offspring most mules are impotent Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sterile
- barren
- fruitless
- unfruitful
- sterilized
- infertile
- altered
- emasculated
- neutered
- castrated
- unproductive
- gelded
- desexed
- spayed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fertile
- fat
- fruitful
- productive
- rich
- prolific
- potent
- fecund
- pregnant
- enriched
- luxuriant
- impregnated
- fertilized
- bearing
- flourishing
- producing
- bursting
- yielding
- teeming
- blooming
- swarming
2
as in helpless
unable to act or achieve one's purpose an impotent ruler who was just a figurehead Synonyms & Similar Words
- helpless
- paralyzed
- powerless
- weak
- incompetent
- incapable
- ineffectual
- useless
- hamstrung
- ineffective
- passive
- feeble
- handcuffed
- unfit
- impuissant
- hog-tied
- high and dry
- inept
- spineless
- supine
- infirm
- unaggressive
- frail
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- powerful
- effective
- mighty
- potent
- competent
- capable
- strong
- efficient
- able
- despotic
- tyrannical
- authoritarian
- autocratic
- dictatorial
- puissant
- dominant
- forceful
- important
- vigorous
- dynamic
- tyrannic
- robust
- energetic
- sturdy
- magisterial
- tough
- significant
- major
- autocratical
- senior
- top
- high-level