adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
relatively
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Demand is shaped by the suppliers themselves and ignorance makes consumers relatively powerless .
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Until recently, subordinates were considered relatively powerless .
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Going along as a small independent with just a few programmes to your name does render you relatively powerless .
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People tend to feel that they are relatively powerless in politics when acting alone-but there might be strength in numbers.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Although we all thought the decision was unfair, we were powerless to change it.
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Blocked by the Democrats in the Senate, Bush appeared powerless .
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Citizens imprisoned for their political beliefs are powerless against the government.
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The average citizen feels completely powerless faced with the rising tide of crime and violence.
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The people of Hungary were powerless against the tanks of the Red Army.
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The UN was powerless to prevent the war spreading.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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Each side generates a discourse that is powerless and almost meaningless in the linguistic world of the other.
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Ewing suggests that young killers often vent their rage on a smaller victim because they are powerless against their adult abusers.
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He has been virtually powerless to stop franchise-hopping.
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It just hits you like some spiteful virus and down you go, knowing it's crazy but powerless to resist.
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Now, though, she was even powerless to move, although he did not attempt to draw her against him.
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Only calamity and desolation awaited this continent, and he felt almost powerless against the evils.
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Shy but cordial friendships were struck up, which Mrs Thomlinson was powerless to prevent or subvert.
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The Madiatma was a symbol of strength to a nation that felt powerless .