impotent Definition
- 1unable to take effective action; helpless or powerless
- 2lacking physical strength or vigor
Using impotent: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "impotent" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The government was impotent in the face of the crisis.
Example
He felt impotent to help his friend in need.
Example
The medicine made him feel impotent and weak.
Example
The company's impotent attempts to improve sales were unsuccessful.
impotent Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with impotent
Example
He was diagnosed as sexually impotent and sought medical treatment.
a feeling of intense anger or frustration that is unable to be expressed or acted upon effectively
Example
He felt impotent rage at the injustice he witnessed.
Example
His impotent threat to quit his job was met with indifference by his boss.
Origins of impotent
from Latin 'im-' meaning 'not' and 'potent-', meaning 'powerful'
Summary: impotent in Brief
The term 'impotent' [ˈɪmpət(ə)nt] describes a lack of power or effectiveness, whether in terms of action or physical strength. Examples include 'The government was impotent in the face of the crisis.' and 'The medicine made him feel impotent and weak.' The phrase 'sexually impotent' refers to the inability to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual activity.