The term 'make powerless' can be summarized by the crossword solution 'HAMSTRING, ' which is a nine-letter word. Hamstringing is a term used to describe the act of weakening or disabling someone or something, usually through physical means. It is derived from the literal act of cutting the tendons in the back of the leg, which would render the person unable to walk. In a figurative sense, it is used to describe any action that renders someone or something powerless.