influential

1 of 2

adjective

in·​flu·​en·​tial ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-shəl 

: exerting or possessing influence

influentially

ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

influential

2 of 2

noun

: one who has great influence

Synonyms of influential

Adjective

• authoritative
• important
• dominant

Examples of influential in a Sentence

Adjective

His theories have become more influential in recent years.

My parents have been the most influential people in my life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Barbara Jakobson was a monumental force in the New York art world for over 60 years, serving as an influential collector, a fierce patron, and a longtime trustee of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). — Demetrius Simms For Robb Report, ARTnews.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Critics said that his case reflected Beijing’s emphasis on security and intolerance of dissent, even though Macao’s pro-democracy movement has never been as influential as that in neighboring Hong Kong. — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Noun

One company who might have some answers is The Set Up, the new indie production house that Colin From Accounts commissioner Alison Hurbert-Burns has just set up with Bruna Papandrea and Steve Hutensky’s influential Made Up Stories. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026

That’s not to say other judges won’t find the ruling influential, but it’s already been shown that a ruling for an athlete on eligibility doesn’t guarantee a different athlete’s success in another state. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for influential

• credential
• prudential
• sequential
• tangential
• torrential
• circumferential
• inconsequential
• consequential
• deferential
• existential
• exponential
• nonessential

Kids Definition

influential

adjective

in·​flu·​en·​tial

ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen-chəl

: having influence

influentially

-ˈench-(ə-)lē

adverb