impotent
gb/ˈɪmpətənt/ us/ˈɪmpətənt/
B2
English
~ 9900
tehetetlen, impotens
B2
1
tehetetlen
B1
Usage pattern:
be impotent (to [verb] / against [something])
Many citizens felt impotent to stop the spread of corruption in their country.
Sok állampolgár tehetetlennek érezte magát a korrupció terjedésének megállításában az országában.
She was filled with impotent rage as she watched the company ignore the workers’ complaints.
Tehetetlen düh töltötte el, amikor látta, hogy a cég figyelmen kívül hagyja a dolgozók panaszait.
Local governments are often impotent against powerful multinational corporations.
As the crisis deepened, the international community seemed increasingly impotent to prevent further violence.
He described himself as politically impotent, with no real way to influence the decision.
Learner examples
People felt impotent when the flood came to the town.
Az emberek tehetetlennek érezték magukat, amikor az árvíz elérte a várost.
I was angry but impotent to change the unfair rule.
Dühös voltam, de tehetetlennek éreztem magam az igazságtalan szabály megváltoztatásában.
Small groups are often impotent against large companies.
The teacher felt impotent to help all of the students.
She cried from impotent frustration when nothing worked.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "impotent" always has a sexual meaning. In politics, work, or social topics, it usually means "powerless" or "unable to act effectively." Learners may also confuse "impotent" with "important" because they look similar, but their meanings are completely different.
Meaning
powerless; unable to act effectively
Collocations
feel impotent
|impotent rage
|politically impotent
|impotent against [something]
|impotent to prevent
|socially impotent
Synonyms
powerless (Directly emphasizes having no power or control, often slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
helpless (Adds a stronger emotional tone of distress or vulnerability compared with the more neutral "impotent.")
|
ineffective (Focuses on the lack of effect or results rather than on power or control itself.)
Antonyms
powerful (Highlights having the power or ability that an impotent person or group lacks.)
|
effective (Stresses producing the intended result, the opposite of being impotent in a situation.)
|
capable (Suggests having the needed ability or skill, which an impotent person or action does not have.)
Themes
emotions
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not able to do anything that really helps or changes a situation.
Lacking the power, influence, or ability to change events or take effective action in a situation.
C1
2
impotens
C1
Usage pattern:
be impotent
After the surgery, he was worried he might be left impotent.
A műtét után attól tartott, hogy impotens marad.
The doctor explained that stress alone can sometimes make a man temporarily impotent.
Az orvos elmagyarázta, hogy önmagában a stressz is néha átmenetileg impotenssé tehet egy férfit.
Some blood pressure medicines can cause men to become impotent.
He spoke openly about being impotent and how it affected his marriage.
New treatments have helped many impotent men regain normal sexual function.
Learner examples
He went to the doctor because he was impotent.
Azért ment orvoshoz, mert impotens volt.
Some men become impotent when they are very stressed.
Egyes férfiak impotenssé válnak, amikor nagyon stresszesek.
The medicine helped him, and he was no longer impotent.
They saw a specialist about his being impotent.
The couple talked honestly about his fear of becoming impotent.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sexual meaning with the more general sense of "powerless" in social or political contexts. Also, some may think "impotent" always means "not able to have children," but it specifically refers to erection, not fertility.
Meaning
unable to get an erection
Collocations
sexually impotent
|clinically impotent
|become impotent
|impotent man
|suffer from impotence
|treat impotence
Synonyms
with erectile dysfunction (More clinical and technical; usually used as a medical description rather than a simple adjective.)
Antonyms
potent (In sexual contexts, can suggest being sexually strong or capable, the opposite of being impotent.)
|
sexually functional (Technical-sounding phrase meaning the person does not have problems with erection or sexual performance.)
Themes
health
|relationships
|body
|medicine
Definition
Not able to get or keep an erection for sex.
Unable to achieve or maintain a penile erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impotent
IPA
GB/ˈɪmpətənt/
US/ˈɪmpətənt/
Syllables & stress
im - pot - ent (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (im)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impotent
Word family
Core family
impotence
noun
potent
adjective B2
Related words
potency
noun
Advanced or less common
impotently
adverb
omnipotent
adjective
Expressions
feel impotent
1/fˈil ˈɪmpətənt/
fixed phrase
to experience powerlessness
To feel that you cannot do anything useful to change a situation.
Examples
- Many parents feel impotent when their teenagers refuse to talk to them.
- He said he felt impotent watching the news about the war.
impotent against
1/ˈɪmpətənt əɡˈɛnst/
fixed phrase
unable to stop or affect something
Not able to hurt, stop, or change a specific thing or person.
Examples
- Traditional parties seem impotent against the rise of social media campaigns.
- The old laws are impotent against modern forms of online crime.
impotent rage
1/ˈɪmpətənt ɹˈeɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
intense anger with no power to act
Very strong anger when you cannot do anything to fix the problem.
Examples
- She watched in impotent rage as the company destroyed the old trees.
- He slammed the door in impotent rage, knowing the decision could not be changed.
politically impotent
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəli ˈɪmpətənt/
fixed phrase
formal
without political power or influence
Not able to affect government decisions or politics in any real way.
Examples
- Small opposition parties remain politically impotent under the current system.
- Many citizens feel politically impotent and do not vote.
sexually impotent
1/sˈɛkʃuəli ˈɪmpətənt/
fixed phrase
unable to function sexually (erection)
Not able to get or keep an erection for sex.
Examples
- He became sexually impotent after the accident.
- The clinic offers counseling for men who are sexually impotent.