powerful

adjective

pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce powerful (audio)
Synonyms of powerfulnext
1
: having great power, prestige, or influence
a powerful leader
2
: leading to many or important deductions
a powerful set of postulates

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mexico’s ability to co-host the World Cup has been under scrutiny after a surge in violence last week in the state of Jalisco following the military’s killing of a powerful cartel boss. ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026 Most major tech companies have age restrictions on their powerful chatbots, but that hasn’t stopped some toy companies from claiming to use OpenAI and Google to power their products. Kevin Collier, NBC news, 3 Mar. 2026 This year’s luncheon will feature a powerful lineup of speakers whose personal experiences and professional leadership reflect the many dimensions of breast cancer impact from survivorship and advocacy to innovation in care and research. Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026 After Linda Pinto reportedly learned about the Virginia Giuffre allegations in January 2015, her correspondence with Epstein continued to focus on drumming up more commissions and getting introductions to his powerful friends. Adam Robb, Curbed, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for powerful

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of powerful was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Powerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerful. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

powerful

adjective
pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce powerful (audio)
: full of or having power or influence : strong, effective
powerfully adverb

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