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 of firepower

• power
• strength
• energy
• capability
• muscle
• capacity

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

Trump continues training political firepower on Thomas Massie as challenger files to run. —FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026

But for stretches that lasted far too long for a player and an offense with that firepower, Jackson and the Ravens were simply not good enough. —Jeff Howe, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2026

Actual firepower, sources say, is controlled by Army Chief Domingo Hernández Lárez, who commands the operational units capable of sustained combat. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2026

Because if Philly can emulate any of its offensive firepower from a season ago, its defense is absolutely still a championship-caliber one. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

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