machtlos
Translation
powerless, helpless, impotent
Examples
Er fühlte sich der Situation gegenüber machtlos.
He felt powerless in the face of the situation.
Die Bürger waren machtlos gegen die neue Regelung.
The citizens were powerless against the new regulation.
Grammar Patterns
to be powerless ((against sth.)) He was powerless against fate.
Similar Words
Synonyms: hilflos (helpless), wehrlos (defenseless); Antonyms: mächtig (powerful), stark (strong)
Etymology
Composed of 'Macht' (power, might) and the suffix '-los' (-less). It literally means 'power-less'.
Memory Tips
Connect it to the English word 'might'. 'Macht' and 'might' are cognates. So, 'machtlos' is 'might-less'.