Impotent Meaning
/ˈɪm.pə.tənt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjLacking physical strength or vigor; weak
adjLacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
Sentence Examples
"Your army is impotent against mine!!" he laughed.
My husband is impotent. What should I do?
The small country felt impotent in the face of the threat.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the stroke, he felt ____ and unable to move his left arm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small local police force felt ____ to stop the large-scale riot without any outside help.
Word Origin & History
From Old French impotent, from Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent"
— 1984, Freeman J. Dyson, Weapons and Hope:
"A person smeared with the excrement of a mouse was rendered impotent, according to Pliny the Elder."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 158:
"Then, impotent of tongue (her ſilence broke) / Thus turbulent in rattling tone ſhe ſpoke."
— a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The First Book of Homer’s Ilias”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and R[ichard] Tonson, […], published 1760, →OCLC, page 444:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the stroke, he felt ____ and unable to move his left arm.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The small local police force felt ____ to stop the large-scale riot without any outside help.