impotent

adjective
UK: /ˈɪmpətənt/
US: /ˈɪmpətənt/

  1. Lacking power or strength; unable to take effective action.

    1. The king was an impotent ruler because he had no army.
    2. Without the proper tools, we were impotent to stop the leak before it caused damage.

  2. Of a man, unable to achieve an erection or to ejaculate.

    1. He felt impotent and ashamed after the failed encounter.
    2. The medication can sometimes make men impotent as a side effect, but usually it's temporary.

  3. Ineffective; without the strength or power to influence or change a situation.

    1. Their threats were impotent because no one took them seriously.
    2. The government seemed impotent to deal with the escalating crisis, leading to public unrest.

Synonyms

powerless incapable unable weak sterile ineffectual feeble
impotent noun

  1. A man who is unable to have sexual intercourse.

    1. He became an impotent after the accident.
    2. Society once stigmatized the impotent, but now seeks medical solutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "impotent" in English means: Lacking power or strength; unable to take effective action., Of a man, unable to achieve an erection or to ejaculate., Ineffective; without the strength or power to influence or change a situation..

The phonetic transcription of "impotent" is /ˈɪmpətənt/ in British English and /ˈɪmpətənt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "impotent": powerless, incapable, unable, weak, sterile, ineffectual, feeble.

Example usage of "impotent": "The king was an impotent ruler because he had no army.". More examples on the page.