puissant

American  

[pyoo-uh-suhnt, pyoo-is-uhnt, pwis-uhnt] / ˈpyu ə sənt, pyuˈɪs ənt, ˈpwɪs ənt /

adjective

Literary.

1. powerful; mighty; potent.

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puissant British  

/ ˈpjuːɪsənt /

adjective

1. archaic  powerful

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Other Word Forms

• overpuissant adjective
• overpuissantly adverb
• puissantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of puissant

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *possent- (stem of *possēns ), for Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse to be able, have power; potent ¹, -ant

Example Sentences

In this age of rapidly melting glaciers, terrifying megafires and ever more puissant hurricanes, of acidifying and rising oceans, it is hard to believe that any further prod to climate action is needed.

From The Guardian

The play, he writes, is “smart, compact and stirring” and “seems destined to have a life as a puissant postscript to Ibsen’s masterwork.”

From Los Angeles Times

The play, which opens next week on Broadway in a different production, seems destined to have a life as a puissant postscript to Ibsen’s masterwork.

From Los Angeles Times

The problem in this case is that there is some small minded puissant who has been waging a prolonged campaign to harass, deride and smear her personally.

From Forbes

The Royal Nappy , on the other hand, is focused on the business end of the puissant infant, as you might expect from the chap who brought you The Queen's Knickers and Cinderella's Bum.

From The Guardian