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impotence

impotence

16 7.7
Unable to get or keep an erection
  • noun
  • /ˈɪmpətəns/
  • NSFW
translation icon : impotencia
  • Men with performance anxiety, men with any common form of impotence or sexual dysfunction.
  • sexual impotence
  • treat impotence
  • impotence in a man

According to legend, Hera cursed him with inconvenient impotence.

Examples

  • Viagra is the first-ever pill to treat impotence.

  • Teenage boys who are overweight or obese run a higher risk of impotence in later life, researchers have warned.

    Blog text (11)
  • Have you tried any of the impotence drugs?

  • My impotence set in a year ago.

  • And in men, it causes impotence.

  • ''One out of every two males experiences impotence at least once in his late teens.''

  • Prolonged impotence is very common after a breakup.

  • Another possibility was impotence, though something like 80 percent of men in his condition regained "limited" potency.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Some men, however, experience chronic, complete erectile dysfunction (impotence), and others, partial or brief erections.

    Blog text (18)
  • Many men experience impotence at some point in their lives, which can affect their confidence.

Synonyms

erectile dysfunction
vsimpotence
  • NSFW
13 4.8

A condition when a man cannot get or keep an erection for sex

is broader, including failure to engage in intercourse rather than only performance
impotency
vsimpotence
  • NSFW
1 8.2

Not being able to get or keep an erection for sex

is the same in meaning but is a less common variant spelling
male erectile dysfunction
vsimpotence
  • Specialized
3.7

A condition in which a man cannot get or keep an erection for sex

is a general term rather than a formal medical diagnosis

Antonyms

1.2

Physical or mental power a person has to act

potency
  • NSFW
5 7.5

A man's ability to have and maintain sex

potence
  • NSFW
9.9

A man's ability to get and keep an erection and have sex

Compounds

anti-impotence drug
  • Specialized
3.4

A drug that helps men who cannot get or keep an erection

How Sexually Potent

potency
  • NSFW
5 7.5
impotence
  • NSFW
16 7.7

Surface Forms

impotence singular
impotences plural

Morphology

impotence = impotent (semi-transparent) = im + potent + ence

The word is formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ence' to 'impotent'; while the composition is regular, the sexual/medical sense is a specialized extension of 'lack of power'.

Etymology

Impotence comes from the Latin parts in- 'not' and potentia 'power', the same root as potent. Think 'not powerful' — so in medicine it means being unable to have or keep an erection.