powerful

[ pou-er-fuhl ]

adjective

1. having or exerting great power or force.

   Synonyms: strong, forceful

   Antonyms: weak

2. physically strong, as a person:

   a large, powerful athlete.

3. producing great physical effects, as a machine or a blow.
4. potent; efficacious:

   a powerful drug.

5. having great effectiveness, as a speech, speaker, description, reason, etc.

   Synonyms: effective, cogent, forcible, convincing, influential

6. having great power, authority, or influence; mighty:

   a powerful nation.

7. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. great in number or amount:

   a powerful lot of money.

powerful

/ ˈpaʊəfʊl /

adjective

1. having great power, force, potency, or effect
2. extremely effective or efficient in action

   a powerful drug

   a powerful lens

3. dialect.
   large or great

   a powerful amount of trouble

adverb

1. dialect.
   extremely; very

   he ran powerful fast

Derived Forms

• ˈpowerfulness, noun
• ˈpowerfully, adverb

Other Words From

• power·ful·ly adverb
• power·ful·ness noun
• over·power·ful adjective
• over·power·ful·ly adverb
• over·power·ful·ness noun
• quasi-power·ful adjective
• quasi-power·ful·ly adverb
• super·power·ful adjective
• ultra·power·ful adjective
• un·power·ful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of powerful¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, powerful is from the Middle English word powarfull. See power, -ful

Synonym Study

Powerful, mighty, potent suggest great force or strength. Powerful suggests capability of exerting great force or overcoming strong resistance: a powerful machine like a bulldozer. Mighty, now chiefly rhetorical, implies uncommon or overwhelming strength of power: a mighty army. Potent implies great natural or inherent power: a potent influence.

Example Sentences

Hegseth, 44, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, will be responsible for the world's most powerful military in his first political role.

From BBC

The idea of "liberal peace" - that peace, democracy, justice and open markets all go together - had long been a powerful strand in US global strategy.

From BBC

The residents of Piltover enjoy the privileges of life in an affluent and powerful society, one that casually oppresses the impoverished inhabitants of Zaun.

From Salon

Lurie could face less friction than Breed did in getting the county’s powerful Board of Supervisors to support his agenda.

From Los Angeles Times

Friendships between two women onscreen can be powerful in their own ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• all-powerful
• authoritative
• capable
• compelling
• dominant
• dynamic
• energetic
• forceful
• impressive
• influential
• mighty
• persuasive
• potent
• robust
• vigorous