Definition of energynext
1
as in aura
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings many Eastern cultures believe in the significance of life energy in the healing process

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in fuel
something with a usable capacity for doing work some of the power needs of the house are provided by solar energy

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun energy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of energy are force, might, power, and strength. While all these words mean "the ability to exert effort," energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

When is it sensible to use force instead of energy?

While in some cases nearly identical to energy, force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

In what contexts can might take the place of energy?

While the synonyms might and energy are close in meaning, might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

When would power be a good substitute for energy?

In some situations, the words power and energy are roughly equivalent. However, power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

When is strength a more appropriate choice than energy?

The synonyms strength and energy are sometimes interchangeable, but strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.

use weight training to build your strength

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of energy Yes, many of the menus are tucked inside the tony enclaves of Newport Beach, but a handful of others cities, ones that don’t hug our sapphire coastline, are also serving up serious pinkies-up energy. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026 Trump has also sought to cancel wind power projects while elevating coal — which contributes to climate change — as a source of energy. Josh Boak, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026 During the talks in Tokyo, the two leaders agreed to work together to diversify energy resources and expand trade and investment to support energy supply chains, according to the road map released by the ministry. ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026 Wright’s priorities include cutting regulatory red tape so permits can be issued quicker, plugging orphan wells and building out the state’s energy infrastructure. Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for energy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for energy
Noun
  • Jamestown, Rhode Island — 'unique rural character' Yankee Magazine said that Jamestown, Rhode Island, is the sixth best small town in New England, commenting that the Conanicut Island town has a rustic aura, with vast stretches of farmland to bike through.
    Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Others let their aura do the talking.
    Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • However, stocks rebounded with vigor and were back to their old highs by August — the fastest recovery of its kind in history.
    Greg Iacurci,Annie Nova, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The quick-growing perennial has a strong rebloom and overall great vigor, adding interest to the garden all summer long.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The world’s largest container shipping company, MSC, already announced fuel surcharges on shipments until at least April.
    Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The Chinese firm believes its faster network will make EV charging feel closer to the experience of briefly stopping at a fuel station.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • On Sunday, Iran continued attacks on neighbors, while Israel struck fuel depots in Tehran and threatened the Islamic Republic’s power grid.
    Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Quiet reflection gains power as cerebral Mercury in your 12th House of Solitude trines jovial Jupiter in your comforting 4th house, guiding you through releasing past aches.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • This all-day, rain-or-shine celebration will be overflowing with live entertainment, festive food, family fun and plenty of Irish spirit, including special offerings from Guinness and Jameson, who will be onsite with festive surprises.
    Laura Ness, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Older and younger kids can play together, fostering a spirit of collaboration.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But there are plenty of other entities in space, with the most common ones being galaxies, protogalaxies, dark molecular clouds of gas, and the ionized warm-hot intergalactic medium.
    Big Think, Big Think, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Thin heaters transfer heat to gases more efficiently.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The courage of our convictions and the strength to embody them.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • These fibers combine electrical resistivity suitable for Joule heating with exceptional strength and relatively high thermal conductivity.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In the Wild Eyed Rose, the voluptuous tartness of the grenadine gets to arc across the whole palate, supported by the warm light malt of the Irish whiskey and given a malic kiss at the end by the lime juice.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Lemon juice and fresh thyme add an earthy brightness to each bowl.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/energy. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on energy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster