powerlessness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The anguish he feels, his powerlessness to control his responses, his shame and frustration—at Katie and himself—are expressed with such raw feeling that the performance can be hard to watch.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

"Everything should have led you to resign," she added, pointing to the government's "powerlessness".

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Tareq Baconi: For those of us in the diaspora, it’s a mix of rage and powerlessness, and then moments of mania, energy, and adrenaline.

From Slate • Nov. 9, 2025

“There’s this sense of powerlessness, of not being the captain of your own ship,” said their daughter Beatrix Zilinskas.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025

Sometimes such an experience bound one person to another; just as often the shame of one’s powerlessness made all witnesses into enemies.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead