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Incompetence vs Powerlessness - What's the difference?

incompetence | powerlessness | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between incompetence and powerlessness

is that incompetence is inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude while powerlessness is the state or character of being powerless; absence or lack of power.

incompetence

English

Noun

(-)
  • Inability to perform; lack of competence; ineptitude.
  • * 1851:
  • ... at the head of a crew, too, chiefly made up of mongrel renegades, and castaways, and cannibals--morally enfeebled also, by the incompetence of mere unaided virtue or right-mindedness in Starbuck
  • * 1949:
  • Winston did not know why Withers had been disgraced. Perhaps it was for corruption or incompetence . Perhaps Big Brother was merely getting rid of a too-popular subordinate.
  • * 1974:
  • The factory where she worked was a poisonous mass of incompetence , favoritism, and sabotage.

    powerlessness

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • The state or character of being powerless; absence or lack of power.
  • Synonyms

    * impotence

    See also

    * helplessness

    References

    * *