powerful

adjective

pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl 

1

: having great power, prestige, or influence

a powerful leader

2

: leading to many or important deductions

a powerful set of postulates

Synonyms

• influential
• significant
• strong
• important

Examples of powerful in a Sentence

The country is becoming more and more powerful.

powerful drugs that attack cancer cells

The cash bonus provides a powerful incentive to workers.

The perfume has a powerful smell.

It's a very powerful movie.

The dog has a powerful body.

She has a powerful voice.

The weapons are very powerful.

The aardvark uses its powerful claws to dig for food.

Recent Examples on the Web

Why spend hundreds on new hardware when one of the cheapest, most powerful PC upgrades of the year costs less than a Cava bowl? —Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 14 Sep. 2025

Maybach built a limited number of grand and powerful cars throughout the Roaring Twenties. —Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025

The powerful combination of ammonia and baking soda is no match for bathtub rings. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2025

Together, these elements created a beauty moment that felt powerful, wearable, and distinctly modern. —Essence, 14 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing powerful

• all-powerful

Kids Definition

powerful

adjective

pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl 

: full of or having power or influence : strong, effective

powerfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb