Despite its lack of formal power the nobility was not powerless.

尽管没有正式的权力，贵族阶层并非没有权势。

youdao

You can either be at the effect (powerless) of your business or act as the cause (in power) of it.

你可以是你业务的效果(无能为力的)或作为它的原因(在能力内的)。

youdao

Actually there are plenty, but they are powerless. All power is in the hands of paranoiacs.

实际上还有很多，但他们都没有力量，所有力量都掌握在偏执狂手中。

youdao

The Communist Party had the power of life and death over Soviet citizens, but they were powerless to revise or repeal the laws of physics or the principles of engineering.

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Together the powerful spy on the powerless, and they're not going to give up their positions of power, despite what the people want.

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Puntland's administration claims it is powerless in the face of the growing power of the pirates, who are well-armed and employ a lot of people.

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