impotent

English

Etymology

Latin impotēns, from in- (expresses negation) + potēns (“powerful”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɪm.pə.tənt/

Adjective

impotent (comparative more impotent, superlative most impotent)

1. Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak.
2. Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
   • Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent (Freeman J. Dyson).
3. Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection.
4. (of a male) Sterile.
5. (obsolete) Lacking self-restraint.

Synonyms

• (lacking strength): feeble, puny, weak
• (lacking power): helpless, powerless
• (incapable of sexual intercourse):
• (sterile): Wikisaurus:limp-dick
• (lacking self-restraint): incontinent

Antonyms

• potent

Related terms

• impotence

Translations

lacking physical strength or vigor; weak

• French: impuissant (fr) m

• Russian: бессильный (ru) (bessilʹnyj), слабый (ru) (slabyj)

lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless

• Italian: impotente (it)

• Russian: бессильный (ru) (bessilʹnyj), слабый (ru) (slabyj), беспомощный (ru) (bespomoščnyj)

incapable of sexual intercourse

• Russian: импотентный (ru) (impotentnyj), страдающий импотенцией (ru) (stradajuščij impotencijej)

sterile

• Russian: стерильный (ru) (sterilʹnyj)

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Middle French

Adjective

impotent m (feminine singular impotente, masculine plural impotens, feminine plural impotentes)

1. impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse)