1
as in authoritative
having power over the minds or behavior of others
in light of the effect that they have had, religious leaders such as Jesus and Muḥammad must be regarded as among the most influential people ever
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerful
having great power or influence
a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of influential
With other influential business friends by her side, such as the Jenner and Hadid families, her influence has grown across social media to a sea of beauty influencers.
—
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2010, Vought quit working for House Republicans and helped launch Heritage Action for America, an offshoot of the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Michael Dowling is one of the most influential leaders in the health care industry—you're stepping into some big shoes.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Sculptors and painters, including Damien Hirst, Picasso and Francis Bacon, were influential to Hawley’s designs.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influential
Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
In 2010, Vought quit working for House Republicans and helped launch Heritage Action for America, an offshoot of the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.
—Andy Kroll, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Michael Dowling is one of the most influential leaders in the health care industry—you're stepping into some big shoes.
—Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Sculptors and painters, including Damien Hirst, Picasso and Francis Bacon, were influential to Hawley’s designs.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential
Adjective
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Clients and partners need the dynamic, authoritative showman in the red shirt.—
Jason BARNARD,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
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Religion reporter Liam Adams has written extensively about denominations with Nashville ties, wrote authoritative news obituaries after the deaths of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson and Room In The Inn founder Father Charlie Strobel and has covered trends involving religion.—
Jennifer Brett,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One of two vice-chairmen of the commission, the general is the third-most powerful commander of the People’s Liberation Army and has been considered a close associate of President Xi Jinping, the army’s commander-in-chief.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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The powerful currents of flash floods can carry drivers off the road.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
See the sportsbook operator's terms and conditions for important details.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Beane, however, had better hope his incoming defensive reinforcements make a significant push to keep 2025 on the Super Bowl track.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The university’s recent efforts in using real-time analysis of digital medical records to predict sepsis, a deadly blood infection, in emergency department patients have garnered significant national attention.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, the title challengers were dominant on home turf, but the statistics suggest Perri should have kept the score down.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The Los Angeles Dodgers, after silencing the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, Tuesday night in front of a subdued crowd at American Family Field, are putting on one of the most dominant pitching clinics in the league.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Politically, the affluence manifested in Long Island establishing itself as a bastion of the Republican Party, showing strong support for Hoover in his doomed Presidential campaign against Roosevelt.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
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Since Xi Jinping assumed power in 2012, Chinese stories have increasingly included nods to Chinese nationalist (not just communist) soldiers fighting bravely, thus placing a strong, victorious, and morally righteous China at the forefront of the postwar global order.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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