impotence

Pronunciation: /ˈɪmpətəns/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble
  2. noun an inability (usually of the male animal) to copulate

Etymology

From Middle French impotence, from Latin impotentia.

In classic literature

Synonyms

powerlessness, impotency

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
quality
Narrower (hyponyms)
ineffectiveness, paper tiger, uninterestingness, unpersuasiveness, helplessness, voicelessness
Opposite (antonyms)
power

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