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Powerful vs Powerless - What's the difference?

powerful | powerless |

Powerless is a antonym of powerful.



As adjectives the difference between powerful and powerless

is that powerful is having, or capable of exerting power, potency or influence while powerless is lacking sufficient power or strength.

powerful

English

Alternative forms

* powerfull * powreful * powrefull

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Having, or capable of exerting power, potency or influence.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
    • The powerful grace that lies / In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=19 citation , passage=As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once.}}
  • (mining) Large; capacious; said of veins of ore.

    • Synonyms

    * * *

    Antonyms

    * *

    powerless

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Lacking sufficient power or strength.
    • You are powerless to stop me
  • *
  • Lacking legal authority.
    • The traffic warden was powerless to stop me driving away.

    Derived terms

    * powerlessness * superpowerless

    Synonyms

    * strengthless * weak * vulnerable

    Antonyms

    * powerful * strong