Home › Words › I › impotenceimpotence/ˈɪmpətəns/impotence means powerlessness; incapacity.impotence is pronounced /ˈɪmpətəns/.EtymologyFrom Middle French impotence, from Latin impotentia.nounPowerlessness; incapacity.e.g.“Near-synonyms: weakness, helplessness”Inability to copulate or beget children; sterility, erectile dysfunction, etc.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).Words closest in meaningBy meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.impuissance 81% match — Impotence, weakness. vs impotence →impotentness 80% match — The quality of being impotent. vs impotence →impotency 78% match — impotence vs impotence →impotently 75% match — In an impotent manner. vs impotence →strengthlessness 73% match — The state of being without power, impotence. vs impotence →powerlessness 72% match — The state or character of being powerless; absence or lack of power. vs impotence →impotent 72% match — Lacking physical strength or vigor; weak vs impotence →inability 70% match — Lack of the ability to do something; incapability. vs impotence →