impotency

/'impətəns/ Cách viết khác : (impotency) /'impətəns/ (impotentness) /'impətəntnis/

Thân thiện

A patient discusses his impotency with a doctor in a private consultation room.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Inability to copulate (usually of a male animal or human): The condition of being unable to perform sexual intercourse, often specifically referring to erectile dysfunction in males.
   • Lack of strength or power; weakness and feebleness: The quality or state of being powerless, ineffective, or unable to act or produce an effect.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Medical/Physical):
  • The doctor discussed treatments for his impotency.
  • Age and certain health conditions can lead to impotency.
• Noun (General Powerlessness):
  • The impotency of the government in the face of the crisis was alarming.
  • She felt a sense of impotency when her suggestions were ignored.

Advanced Usage

• "Political impotency": The inability of a political body or leader to enact change or exert influence.
  • The minority party complained about its political impotency against the ruling coalition.
• "Feelings of impotency": A psychological state of perceiving oneself as powerless.
  • Watching the disaster unfold on TV filled him with feelings of impotency.

Variants and Related Words

• Impotence (n): The more common variant, identical in meaning to 'impotency'.
  • The words 'impotence' and 'impotency' are often used interchangeably.
• Impotent (adj): Lacking power or ability; unable to copulate.
  • The once-feared general was now an impotent old man.
  • He felt impotent to help.

Synonyms

• Powerlessness: Lack of ability, influence, or power.
• Ineffectiveness: The quality of not producing any significant or desired effect.
• Weakness: The state of lacking strength.
• Sterility (in specific biological/incapacity contexts): Inability to reproduce.

Antonyms

• Potency: Power, effectiveness; specifically, the ability to copulate or reproduce.
• Strength: The quality or state of being physically or mentally strong.
• Power: The ability to do something or act in a particular way.

Notes on Usage

• In modern medical and everyday contexts, "erectile dysfunction (ED)" is the preferred and more precise term for the sexual condition, as it is less laden with broader connotations of weakness. "Impotency/impotence" is still understood but can be considered somewhat dated or blunt in this sense.
• The term is often used in broader, figurative contexts (e.g., political, social, mechanical) to describe a profound lack of force or efficacy.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an inability (usually of the male animal) to copulate
2. the quality of lacking strength or power; being weak and feeble

Từ đồng nghĩa

• impotence
• powerlessness