pow ‧ er ‧ less /ˈpaʊələs $ ˈpaʊr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ power , ↑ superpower , ↑ powerlessness , ↑ empowerment ; adjective : ↑ powerful ≠ ↑ powerless , ↑ overpowering , ↑ power , ↑ powered ; verb : ↑ power , ↑ empower , ↑ overpower ; adverb : ↑ powerfully ≠ ↑ powerlessly , ↑ overpoweringly ]
unable to stop or control something because you do not have the power, strength, or legal right to do so ⇨ powerful :
He felt so powerless.
powerless to do something
Local police were powerless to stop them doing it again.
powerless against
The villagers were powerless against the rising flood water.
—powerlessly adverb
—powerlessness noun [uncountable] :
a sense of frustration and powerlessness