is powerless for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is powerless for" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where you want to express that someone or something lacks the ability to influence or affect a particular situation. Example: "Despite his efforts, he feels powerless for the outcome of the decision."

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

This is another way of saying that the problem is (lack of) demand, not supply.Fiscal folliesAt this point one faction of the pessimists makes a different argument: supposing that demand is indeed part of the problem, they say, the government is powerless, for one reason or another, to use fiscal and monetary policy to address it.

The Economist

"Little and failing heat, as in old people, is powerless for the soul's operations," whereas excessive heat "makes souls precipitous and unbridled," (1601b, 130).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Ms. Giangeruso, who notes that last year, after the "Snowtober storm" on Halloween, her house was powerless for six days.

The New York Times

Once the boy falls in love with you, then it is time to tell him the truth, that you're an atheist, he may get disappointed but he is powerless to change his feelings for you so in order to resolve his cognitive dissonance then he has got to accept you for who you are as a person.

WikiHow

"Brussels is powerless.

The New York Times

Labor is powerless.

The New York Times

There were, in fact, many families like us, negotiating their response to addiction: discovering what they were powerless over, battling for the courage to confront what they could control.

The New York Times

But he admits that even if his bid is successful, under current rules anyone would be able to register a.eco name and he would be unable to block trademarked names registering.eco addresses, meaning he would be powerless to stop, for instance, an oil company from registering a.eco domain.

The Guardian

Let's not let City Hall off the hook, though, because D'Arcy would be powerless if not for it.

Los Angeles Times

But the ego can be equally as powerful in a negative form, seen in those who are always bringing attention to their woes, to poor me, or who think they are powerless and worthless, for this is just as self-centered.

Huffington Post

Some Malians have blamed MINUSMA for failing to stop the rebels in the North, for being powerless in the face of terrorism, and for stalling the peace process.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using stronger, more common alternatives like "unable to affect" or "has no influence on" for clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "is powerless for" in formal writing. The phrase can sound unnatural. Rephrase to clearly state the lack of ability or control using more direct language.

Linguistic Context

"Is powerless for" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a preposition, describing a state of lacking ability or authority in relation to something. It indicates an inability to exert influence or control over a specific situation or outcome. Ludwig AI suggests that the phrase may sound awkward and that more direct alternatives might be preferable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is powerless for" is grammatically acceptable but considered somewhat awkward and uncommon in contemporary English. Ludwig AI indicates this, suggesting more direct and frequently used alternatives such as "is unable to affect" or "has no influence on". While it appears across various sources including News & Media and Science, its rarity suggests considering alternative phrasings for clarity and impact in writing. When aiming for precision and style, opting for more conventional expressions will likely enhance readability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unable to affect

Replaces "powerless" with "unable" and uses the verb "affect" instead of "for".

has no influence on

Changes the verb and preposition to convey a lack of impact.

has no say in

Focuses on the lack of input or decision-making power.

cannot control

Uses a more direct verb to indicate a lack of authority.

is ineffective in

Emphasizes the inability to produce a desired result.

is at the mercy of

Expresses a state of being controlled by something else.

is helpless against

Highlights the inability to defend against something.

is subject to

Indicates being under the control or influence of something.

lacks the capacity for

Formally states the absence of ability or power.

is susceptible to

Highlights vulnerability to a particular influence.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "is powerless for"?

Alternatives include "is unable to affect", "has no influence on", or "cannot control", depending on the specific context.

Is "is powerless for" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly incorrect, "is powerless for" is an uncommon and potentially awkward phrasing. It's generally better to use more direct and widely accepted alternatives for clarity.

How can I use "is powerless for" in a sentence?

Although grammatically valid, consider rewriting sentences using alternatives like "is unable to change", or "has no authority over" to make it sound more natural.

What's the difference between "is powerless for" and "has no power over"?

"Has no power over" is a more common and direct way of expressing a lack of control or influence. "Is powerless for" is less frequent and can sound awkward; it's better to use the former.