impotent

CEFRC1

/ˈɪm.pə.tənt/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Lacking power or ability.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection, having impotentia coeundi.

Examples

  • "Your army is impotent against mine!!" he laughed.

  • My husband is impotent. What should I do?

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless

  2. Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak

  3. Lacking self-restraint

More examples

In context

  • The small country felt impotent in the face of the threat.

  • A person smeared with the excrement of a mouse was rendered impotent, according to Pliny the Elder.

  • Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

After the stroke, he felt blank and unable to move his left arm.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).