powerless

impuissant

Qui ne peut pas agir ou changer une situation, faute de force ou de contrôle.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : powerless to do something (We were powerless to prevent the closure.); powerless against something (The small boat was powerless against the waves.)

Synonymes : helpless, weak

Contraires : powerful

Expressions courantes : feel powerless, powerless to act, powerless against something

sans pouvoir légal

Qui ne peut pas agir parce que la loi ne lui en donne pas le droit.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : powerless to do something (The agency is powerless to impose a fine.)

Synonymes : unauthorized

Expressions courantes : legally powerless, powerless to intervene, powerless under something

sans électricité

Qui ne dispose pas d’électricité.

En anglais simple : Having no electricity available.

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

Synonymes : without power

Expressions courantes : left powerless, powerless homes, powerless after something