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
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
Google has also begun rolling out two powerful filters for album searches.
—
Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
That cell is reportedly allied with one of the two main factions of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, according to the University of San Diego’s Justice in Mexico project.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Yet the project still has powerful defenders — Gov. Gavin Newsom, major labor and environmental groups, and many transit experts — who argue that despite early mistakes, the state can’t afford to walk away.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
But her flat intonation and vocal fry are perfectly suited to Marvel’s campy critical misfire, playing a demure yet powerful teenager who’s taken under the wing of Dakota Johnson’s equally spacey Cassie.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerful
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.
Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
That cell is reportedly allied with one of the two main factions of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, according to the University of San Diego’s Justice in Mexico project.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Yet the project still has powerful defenders — Gov. Gavin Newsom, major labor and environmental groups, and many transit experts — who argue that despite early mistakes, the state can’t afford to walk away.
—Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
But her flat intonation and vocal fry are perfectly suited to Marvel’s campy critical misfire, playing a demure yet powerful teenager who’s taken under the wing of Dakota Johnson’s equally spacey Cassie.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for powerful
Cite this Entry
“Powerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerful. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
powerful
adjective
pow·er·ful
ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share