power 1 of 2

1
2
3
as in faculty
a natural ability of the mind or body dogs have a very highly developed power of smell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in fuel
something with a usable capacity for doing work nuclear power

Synonyms & Similar Words

power

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun power contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of power are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When can authority be used instead of power?

Although the words authority and power have much in common, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When might command be a better fit than power?

While in some cases nearly identical to power, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for power?

The meanings of control and power largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

In what contexts can dominion take the place of power?

The words dominion and power are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When could jurisdiction be used to replace power?

The synonyms jurisdiction and power are sometimes interchangeable, but jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would sway be a reasonable alternative to power?

In some situations, the words sway and power are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 power
Noun
Both Melling and Skarsgard show an intimate understanding of how the power dynamic between their characters works, but what gives Pillion its kick is the friction sparked when Colin starts wanting more. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025 Expect this power shift to drive more M&A activity and deeper integrations between banks, fintech platforms, and lifestyle brands. Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
Verb
Two minutes of sun exposure are enough to power the watch’s Solargraph movement for a day. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 2 May 2025 Beginning in the late 19th century, the country built dams to power its industry, harnessing some of Brazil’s 37,000 miles of waterways for fuel development. Justin Worland, Time, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for power
Recent Examples of Synonyms for power
Noun
  • By pinpointing high-privilege users and monitoring data-sharing behaviors, Reco assists CISOs in implementing stricter access controls.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • This underscores that communication in abusive relationships can escalate the situation, particularly when the core issue is power and control, not miscommunication.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • However neither a wether delay or a temporary evacuation could dampen the crowd's sky-high energy throughout the night.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 18 May 2025
  • Many of these actions have been part of the president’s larger goals of reining in government spending, increasing energy independence and restructuring federal agencies.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • The award is named in honor of LIM College’s president from 1972 to 2002, and is given to a faculty member who performs in exemplary fashion in the classroom and consistently embodies LIM College’s core values.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 May 2025
  • The task force was made up of 30 members of the Park Hill community — including teachers, high school students, faculty members and parents.
    Alecia Taylor, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • Food and fuel, already in short supply and expensive, could become scarcer if truck drivers do not pay tolls to gangs who control roads.
    David C. Adams, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • In the areas of Haiti controlled by gangs, nothing moves without their getting a cut: not food, not fuel, not even humanitarian aid.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025
Verb
  • That is a false narrative that Republicans have been pushing for years now.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • King was posted up on a family deer drive when the massive buck was pushed his way.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • The coalition should invite Syria to become a member of the group, which would acknowledge both Syrian dominion and the government’s responsibility in helping counter the remaining ISIS threat.
    Volker Perthes, Foreign Affairs, 24 Jan. 2025
  • The artwork brings a necessary dose of reality to what is otherwise a weeklong fantasy land of luxury and parties for the super-rich to celebrate their dominion over the world hosted under the guise of fine art.
    Chadd Scott, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The Celtics’ greatest strength and greatest flaw is their persistence.
    Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • In the first half of the 20th century, even as labor unions gained strength elsewhere, there was a fear of giving federal workers too much say over how the nation's laws were carried out.
    Andrea Hsu, NPR, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • These insights led Kiew to develop Change Fluency™, a concept that describes a future-ready capability to not just survive change but to skillfully navigate it, adapt to it, and lead others through it.
    William Jones, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • This allows SpaceX to devote a higher share of the rocket's mass and volume capacity to the Starlink satellites themselves, replacing dead weight with revenue-earning capability.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Power.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/power. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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