powerless

impotente, indefenso

Que no puede hacer algo o cambiar una situación por falta de fuerza o control.

En inglés sencillo: Unable to do something or change a situation because you lack strength or control.

• I felt powerless to help.
• They were powerless against the strong current.
• She watched, powerless, as the fire spread.

Cómo se usa: powerless to do something (We were powerless to prevent the closure.); powerless against something (The small boat was powerless against the waves.)

Sinónimos: helpless, weak

Antónimos: powerful

Expresiones frecuentes: feel powerless, powerless to act, powerless against something

sin autoridad, sin potestad

Que no puede actuar porque la ley no le concede el derecho para hacerlo.

En inglés sencillo: Unable to act because the law does not give you the right to do so.

• The council is powerless to change the law.
• Police were powerless to enter without a warrant.
• The court remained powerless outside its own jurisdiction.

Cómo se usa: powerless to do something (The agency is powerless to impose a fine.)

Sinónimos: unauthorized

Expresiones frecuentes: legally powerless, powerless to intervene, powerless under something

sin electricidad, sin luz

Que no dispone de suministro eléctrico.

En inglés sencillo: Having no electricity available.

• The storm left our house powerless.
• Thousands of homes remained powerless overnight.
• The village was powerless after the cables fell.

Sinónimos: without power

Expresiones frecuentes: left powerless, powerless homes, powerless after something