impotent
gb/ˈɪmpətənt/ us/ˈɪmpətənt/
B2
英語
~ 9900
語義
0件の語義
adjective
B2
state
1
powerless; unable to act effectively
Not able to do anything that really helps or changes a situation.
用法パターン：
be impotent (to [verb] / against [something])
よくある間違い：
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.
類義語
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.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
feel impotent
|impotent rage
|politically impotent
|impotent against [something]
|impotent to prevent
|socially impotent
テーマ
emotions
|society
|politics
|core_vocabulary
例文
- Many citizens felt impotent to stop the spread of corruption in their country.
- She was filled with impotent rage as she watched the company ignore the workers’ complaints.
- 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.
学習者向け例文
- People felt impotent when the flood came to the town.
- I was angry but impotent to change the unfair rule.
- 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.
unknown
C1
state
2
unable to get an erection
Not able to get or keep an erection for sex.
用法パターン：
be impotent
よくある間違い：
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.
類義語
with erectile dysfunction (More clinical and technical; usually used as a medical description rather than a simple adjective.)
対義語
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.)
コロケーション
sexually impotent
|clinically impotent
|become impotent
|impotent man
|suffer from impotence
|treat impotence
テーマ
health
|relationships
|body
|medicine
例文
- After the surgery, he was worried he might be left impotent.
- The doctor explained that stress alone can sometimes make a man temporarily impotent.
- 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.
学習者向け例文
- He went to the doctor because he was impotent.
- Some men become impotent when they are very stressed.
- 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.
文法
辞書形
impotent
IPA
GB/ˈɪmpətənt/
US/ˈɪmpətənt/
音節・強勢
im - pot - ent （3音節）
Stress on 1st syllable (im)
活用形
Adjective
- Base: impotent
関連語
Core family
impotence
noun
potent
adjective B2
Related words
potency
noun
Advanced or less common
impotently
adverb
omnipotent
adjective
表現
feel impotent
1/fˈil ˈɪmpətənt/
fixed phrase
to experience powerlessness
To feel that you cannot do anything useful to change a situation.
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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.
例文
- 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.
例文
- He became sexually impotent after the accident.
- The clinic offers counseling for men who are sexually impotent.