Definition of potentnext
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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 potent Southern Democratic parties are dominated by Black voters because Republicans win overwhelming support of whites in Dixie, leaving Democratic white liberals a relatively less-potent force in the region. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026 Botulism occurs when people eat food contaminated with botulinum toxin, a potent toxin that attacks the body’s nervous system. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026 After his effort in the opener against Aurora Christian, Fecht has established himself atop West Aurora’s potent batting order. Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026 But Explosive News’ videos might be the world’s most potent example of slopaganda yet, changing hearts and minds—or at least generating lots of clicks—one exploding toy battleship at a time. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for potent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potent
Adjective
  • Surprisingly, there are a few dresses worn by society figures of a bygone age when Denver was an up-and-coming metropolis, made rich by mining and the westward expansion of American culture.
    Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Eventually, rich and liberal Harvard joined the cost-cutting trend.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Amid a drumbeat of disclosures that begin to exact consequences for some powerful people — particularly Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain's former Prince Andrew — Congress passed legislation to force the Justice Department to disclose its investigative files on Epstein.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The two women’s powerful, mysterious bond is sketched in sharp yet subtle dramatic strokes that are all the more thrilling for their breathless rapidity.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The service Service is efficient, with the infrastructure to support a resort of this scale.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Wacha was efficient in the strike zone.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Royal Bahamian police said Brian Hooker told investigators that his wife fell over from an 8-foot hard-bottom dinghy — along with the keys to the boat — and she was carried away by strong rip currents.
    Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The National Weather Service says strong winds could generate breaking waves of 8 feet causing dune erosion and road overwash.
    Mark Price April 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As ideological blocs collapsed, political scientist Samuel Huntington’s influential 1996 book Clash of Civilizations articulated a growing anxiety that globalization would harden into cultural antagonism rather than consensus.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Woods is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognizable as any athlete in the world.
    R.J. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Gabapentin has proved effective at helping some mastectomy patients with stubborn pain, while others have responded to electrodes implanted in their spinal column, according to the Baylor study, published in 2024.
    Brett Kelman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • While these methods remain effective, excessive tilling can break down soil aggregates into smaller particles, reducing soil health and increasing erosion risk.
    Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Not to mention the robust grassroots hockey system for girls hockey in the area, with programs such as Little Caesars and Honey Baked already represented in the league by Boston Fleet captain Megan Keller, and top prospect Kirsten Simms.
    Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The other is driven from the top, where production-grade use cases demand robust data infrastructure, engineering rigor, and governance.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Charlotte home prices rose slightly in February compared to the same time last year, although certain neighborhoods had significant swings up or down, according to the latest data from the real estate site Redfin.
    Chase Jordan April 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
  • The Bengals can get by from this point forward without checking these boxes, but the fallout wouldn’t be as significant as missing on the top four.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Potent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potent. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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