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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impotent
The New England Patriots withstood Garrett’s big day and one early push by the impotent Cleveland offense Sunday before pulling away in the second half for their fifth straight win.
—
Zac Jackson, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2025
Yet the Jets' offense was again impotent.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2025
Ethics without efficiency are impotent.
—Karlo Tanjuakio, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
What the Texas Legislature is doing is indefensible – gerrymandering necessarily involves taking portions of the electorate and rendering their voices impotent.
—Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impotent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impotent
Adjective
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This makes your home feel intentional and personal instead of sterile and unoriginal.—
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Many japonica camellias, in the manner of other botanical hybrids, are sterile with their yellow, thread-like stamens and stigmas either absent or invisible.—
Adjective
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Americans have gotten used to the idea that our government is helpless to get anything done.—
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Neighbors are feeling helpless, especially as tax season gets underway.—
Adjective
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In the 19th century, guano miners razed the place, removing most of the topsoil and leaving behind barren rock.—
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The next two teams on this list find themselves in eerily similar situations, from barren rosters to enviable cap space to hope at the quarterback position.—
Adjective
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Clancy allegedly strangled her three children and then tried to kill herself by jumping out a window in 2023, leaving her paralyzed from the sternum down.—
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Smith, an Arizona husband and father, is completely paralyzed and relies on a ventilator to breathe.—
Adjective
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New orders contracted for a fourth month and export bookings remained weak, based on the ISM data.—
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Getting too little of either can lead to weak, brittle bones, and too much can also cause problems (like kidney stones or nausea).—
Cite this Entry
“Impotent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impotent. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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