firepower

noun

fire·​pow·​er ˈfī(-ə)r-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

1

a

: the capacity (as of a military unit) to deliver effective fire on a target

b

: effective fire

2

a

: effective power or force

intellectual firepower

b

: the scoring ability of a team or player

Synonyms

• energy
• force
• horsepower
• might
• muscle
• potence
• potency
• power
• puissance
• sinew
• strength
• vigor

Examples of firepower in a Sentence

The army didn't have the firepower to defeat the invaders.

right now the President doesn't have the political firepower to push his programs through Congress

Recent Examples on the Web

Henrique provides an unexpected scoring punch Considering all the firepower on the Oilers, Adam Henrique’s name is fairly far down the list of those expected to provide an offensive impact. —Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Two early goals from Mark Stone (his third and fourth of the playoffs) seemed to have the Golden Knights on the fast track to an easy win, but the offensive firepower that had Vegas ranked No. 5 in the NHL in goals scored during the regular season faded away quickly. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

The Bucks lack the draft picks and free-agency firepower to assemble a new contender around Antetokounmpo. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025

Transforming Ukraine into a NATO ally would likewise represent the optimal evolution of the security pledge that Washington extended in exchange for the destruction of the tremendous atomic firepower that Kyiv gave up a generation ago, and preserve it as a worldwide model of nuclear disarmament. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for firepower

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

firepower

noun

fire·​pow·​er -ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

: the ability to deliver gunfire or warheads on a target