powerlessness.

Lack of control or influence over an event, decision, or threat.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• sense of powerlessness
• political powerlessness
• confront powerlessness

On the page

The passengers’ powerlessness was worse than the long delay.

Faced with the eviction order, she felt a sudden powerlessness.

Their petition was an attempt to resist powerlessness, not a promise of victory.

Usage notes

Primary category: fear. Unlike helplessness, it can describe political or institutional exclusion even when practical help is available. The emotional sense often includes fear or frustration. Usually uncountable in this sense. Derived family (not additional inflections or records): powerless.