How do you pronounce impotent?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɪm.pə.tənt/.

impotent

/ˈɪm.pə.tənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.04 in modern English

Syllables: im-po-tent
IPA: /ˈɪm.pə.tənt/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak

adj

Lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless

adj

Incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection, having impotentia coeundi.

adj

Sterile

adj

Lacking self-restraint

Obsolete

noun

A man who has erectile dysfunction

noun

An impotent or powerless person

Example Sentences

"Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent"
"A person smeared with the excrement of a mouse was rendered impotent, according to Pliny the Elder."
"Then, impotent of tongue (her ſilence broke) / Thus turbulent in rattling tone ſhe ſpoke."

Etymology

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

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: impotent, impotēns

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more impotent (comparative) most impotent (superlative) impotents (plural)

Derived Forms

impotently impotentness nonimpotent

Phrases

self-impotent

Frequently Paired Words

impotence

Synonyms

feeble puny weak helpless powerless incontinent wet noodle

Antonyms

priapist potent