kraftlos

Kraftlos is a German adjective meaning lacking power, energy, or vitality. It can describe a person who feels physically weak or exhausted, a device that has no energy left, or a performance or argument that lacks force or impact. The term is formed from the noun Kraft (power, strength) and the suffix -los (without).

Etymology and usage notes: Kraftlos combines the concept of power with the negative suffix -los, yielding a straightforward description of absence of power. In everyday language, it is often used in a milder, somewhat literary way. Common contexts include describing a weak feeling: “Ich fühle mich kraftlos,” or a fatigued appearance: “eine kraftlose Rede.” For machines or energy-dependent systems, it can describe a state of reduced performance: “der Motor ist kraftlos” or “der Akku ist kraftlos,” though more everyday terms like leer or erschöpft are also common.

In medical and literary contexts, kraftlos may convey a sense of physical debility or emotional depletion. Its noun form, Kraftlosigkeit, denotes powerlessness or weakness, but it is relatively uncommon in everyday speech and tends to appear in formal or stylistically marked writing.

Related terms include kraftvoll (full of power, energetic) and energisch (energetic). Kraftlos remains a neutral, descriptive word suitable for discussing physical, mechanical, or figurative lack of power without implying explicit blame or causation.