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impotent definition

im·po·tent (im′pə tənt)

adjective

  1. lacking physical strength; weak
  2. ineffective, powerless, or helpless impotent rage
  3. unable to engage in sexual intercourse, esp. because of an inability to have or sustain an erection
  4. Obsolete having no self-control

Etymology: OFr < L impotens: see in- & potent

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical impotent definition - medical

impotent Synonyms

impotent

modif.

  1. Weak

    powerless, ineffective, inept, infirm; see unable, weak 1.

  2. Sterile

    barren, frigid, unproductive; see sterile 1. See syn. study at sterile.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

impotent Usage Examples

Preposition: as

  • result: For some men who have become impotent as a result of surgery there may be treatment to restore erections.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • render: Comodo Personal Firewall renders malware impotent by preventing malware from making outgoing connections needed to harvest confidential consumer information.

Modifies a noun

  • fury: And that, while beating my breast in impotent fury, is why I had to leave.

Modifying Another Word

  • utterly: All power lies with States and alliances between States, while ' humanity ' is left utterly impotent.

Used with adjective complement

  • render: Without fuel for energy a country, however powerful is rendered impotent.

Preposition: in

  • face: Science is impotent in the face of the ultimate issues.
impotent usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

impotent quotes

An impotent people, Sick with inbreeding. Worrying the carcase of an old song.

-Thomas, R(onald) S(tuart)

The mighty US suddenly seemed as impotent as a beached whale.

-Time

impotent quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"impotent." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/impotent>

APA Style

impotent. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/impotent

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