powerless

powerless — adjective

1. not having the strength, authority, or support needed to control a situation or

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

not having the strength, authority, or support needed to control a situation or influence what happens.

Example

After the vote, the small party was powerless in the city council.

political context after a linking verb

Many workers felt powerless when the factory boss ignored their complaints.

feel powerless

Common collocations
  • powerless group
  • powerless king
  • powerless minority
  • powerless workers
  • politically powerless
Synonyms
  • weak

    is broader and may refer to physical strength, arguments, or position.

  • voiceless

    stresses having no real chance to express an opinion, especially in society.

  • subordinate

    focuses more on lower rank inside an organization than on total lack of influence.

Antonyms
  • powerful

    suggests having strong control, authority, or effect.

  • influential

    focuses on the ability to affect decisions or opinions.

  • independent

    suggests freedom from another person's control.

Grammar Patterns

feel powerless

be powerless against + person/force

remain powerless

Usage Note

Common with against when a stronger person, group, or system is blocking you. Distinguish from adjective/2: this sense describes someone's position or lack of influence, not one blocked action in a single moment.

Common Mistakes

The baby was powerless after the fever.
The baby was weak after the fever.
'powerless' is about lacking control or influence, not low physical strength.
My phone is powerless.
My phone is out of power.
'powerless' usually describes people or groups, not a device with an empty battery.

2. unable to stop, change, or improve what is happening, even though you want to.

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

unable to stop, change, or improve what is happening, even though you want to.

Example

Elena was powerless to stop the car sliding on the ice.

powerless to + infinitive

Watching from the shore, Ben felt powerless to help the drowning dog.

feel powerless to help

Common collocations
  • powerless to stop
  • powerless to help
  • powerless to change
  • feel powerless to act
  • left powerless
Synonyms
  • helpless

    is often more emotional and especially common when someone needs rescue or care.

  • unable

    is more neutral and simply states lack of ability.

  • stuck

    is informal and may suggest having no good way forward rather than complete loss of power.

Antonyms
  • able

    direct opposite when someone has the power or chance to act.

  • capable

    stresses having enough skill or strength to do something.

  • in control

    focuses on directing the situation instead of being blocked by it.

Grammar Patterns

be powerless to stop something

feel powerless to help

stand powerless as + clause

Usage Note

Only sense that regularly takes to + infinitive to name the blocked action. Distinguish from adjective/1: here the focus is a particular problem or emergency, not a person's general place in a system.

Common Mistakes

I was powerless changing the school rule.
I was powerless to change the school rule.
Use 'powerless to + verb' for the action you cannot do.
We were powerless for stop the fire.
We were powerless to stop the fire.
Use 'to', not 'for', before the verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Powerless' stresses having no real control, authority, or influence over what happens. 'Weak' is broader: a person, team, or argument can be weak without being completely shut out of decisions. 'Voiceless' is especially useful for groups who are ignored and cannot make themselves heard. 'Helpless' often sounds more personal and emotional, and it fits emergencies better than systems or politics. 'Ineffective' is different again: it means something does not produce results, even if some power exists. A junior clerk may be powerless in a budget meeting, a tired boxer may be weak, a refugee group may be voiceless, and a safety plan may be ineffective.

powerless ↗weak ↗voicelesshelpless ↗ineffective ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • completely powerless
  • utterly powerless

Phrases

  • feel powerless
  • leave someone powerless

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Powerless combines the noun 'power' with the ending '-less', which means 'without'. 'Power' came into English through Old French from a Latin verb meaning 'be able'. The modern adjective keeps that basic idea, so 'powerless' literally means 'without power'.