impotently
1
7.5
- adverb
- /ɪmˈpoʊtəntli/
- The students felt impotently frustrated when they couldn't find a solution to the difficult math problem.
- shake my fist impotently
Examples
-
You see stark visuals of absolute urban devastation, while the voices of pundits pontificate impotently.
Blog text (19) -
The peanut butter stuck to his palate, and he swiped at it impotently with his tongue.
Fiction book (2000) -
Dozens of flaming satellite dishes point impotently at the sky.
Fiction book (1997) -
There was a gray rat impaled on the blade, its mouth opening and closing impotently as life fled.
Fiction book (1998) -
It's just silly drama on the part of the LA City Council to impotently weigh in on Rush Limbaugh's opinions.
Blog text (21) -
In my father's presence, I could feel everything but instinct; in front of him, all my thoughts, feelings, and limbs would droop impotently.
Fiction book (1998) -
When Napoleon forms his troops into giant squares, the Mamluk cavalry can only circle impotently, unable to breakthrough the walls of French bayonets.
-
He didn't so much as glance in Bridget's direction, which, she assured herself impotently, was a good thing for him.
Fiction book (2002) -
"I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on earth," she said to the silence, and impotently beat her fists against the feather bolster on her bed.
Fiction book (1990) -
He watched impotently as the storm destroyed his garden.
Synonyms
26
2.7
In a way that shows someone cannot do anything to help
6
3.9
In a weak way that shows little energy
4
5.6
In a weak way that does not seem believable
1
5.5
Without being able to do anything to change what happens
Antonyms
How Powerless
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Impotently comes from the parts in- 'not' and potent 'powerful', so it literally means 'not powerful'. That's why to act impotently is to act 'powerlessly' or 'helplessly' when you cannot do anything.