Powerless vs Useless - What's the difference?

As adjectives the difference between powerless and useless

is that powerless is lacking sufficient power or strength while useless is without use or possibility to be used.

(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.

* powerlessness * superpowerless

* strengthless * weak * vulnerable

* powerful * strong

(en-adj)

Without use or possibility to be used.

This fork has prongs that are bent. It's useless now.

Unhelpful, not useful; pointless (of an action).

I think it's useless to keep this discussion going. It's like talking to a wall.

I tried my best to make him quit smoking, but my efforts were useless . He now smokes six packs a day.

(pejorative, of a person) good-for-nothing; not dependable.

Bill never mows the lawn, takes out the trash or anything. He's useless , but I love him anyways.

(colloquial, of a person) unable to do well at a particular task or thing. Useless is mildly insulting.

My brother is useless at most computer games, but he is an awesome PS2 player.

Why do you keep trying? You're obviously useless at it.

* (good-for-nothing) good-for-nothing * (unable to do well) unskillful

* skillful, useful

* uselessly * uselessness