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

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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 Providing chew toys for cats along with food puzzles and rotating play options can help channel that energy. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 Russia has been doing this since the start of the war, terrorizing Ukrainian cities with aerial assaults that have killed thousands of civilians and crippled much of the country’s energy grid for months on end. Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 Set the scene Daunt’s is right in the heart of things, but both the pool area and the main 23-room motel feel like a little oasis, set apart from the hubbub of town and with none of the see-and-be-seen energy of places like the Surf Lodge. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 Decades later, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was enacted to conserve energy, once again shifting the start and end dates of daylight saving time. Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for energy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for energy
Noun
  • The aura of the arena, the cheers from her friends and family.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
  • The prevailing motifs include Anglo-American boarding schools and college campuses, accoutrements with a romantic aura (billowing sleeves, melting candles), and analog artifacts (old compasses, monocles).
    Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • His ideas were too radical even for many of our Founding Fathers, but the vigor of his writing and the clarity of his thinking were as a spark to gunpowder, and that was coming, too.
    Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
  • Dividing clumps every few years in early spring also maintains their vigor.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026
Noun
  • Fighting in the region has kept oil tankers from using the waterway to deliver crude to customers from the Persian Gulf, driving up fuel prices worldwide.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • America became the gas and diesel exporter of last resort after the Middle East stopped exporting fuel during the war.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Whatever ailed this World Cup, the beautiful game was waiting with its healing powers.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • While there is undeniable star power, and an unerring ability to get the job done, England will have opportunities to make a mark of their own.
    Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • Timothée Chalamet, who has established a penchant for outré themed courtside outfits to cheer on his beloved New York Knicks, transferred his spirit to root for his other team France.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026
  • Lestat has hired the witch Merrick Mayfair (Sarah Afful) to commune with Claudia’s spirit so that Louis can properly say good-bye to their dead sister-daughter.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2026
Noun
  • In the Siberian city of Irkutsk, police fined four people on Monday, accusing them of reselling gas on the black market at inflated prices, according to the region’s Interior Ministry.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Fires that burn at low temperature produce more harmful gases than hot fires.
    Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • But the strength of the rotation also depends on the conflict in the Middle East remaining contained.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • But its ability to tolerate discomfort is its strength, particularly through its most original figure—Dahl’s friend and publisher Tom Maschler, deftly portrayed by Elliot Levey.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
Noun
  • Treatments range from Chinese-inspired, correcting the flow of qi within the body, to Ayurvedic, rooted in India’s most ancient healing science.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • What to Remove for Better Feng Shui Feng shui, an ancient Chinese practice, focuses on creating a harmonious flow of energy, known as chi.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/energy. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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