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 Some fitness enthusiasts swear that working out on an empty stomach burns more fat, while others insist that eating beforehand is essential for maximizing energy and performance. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 For readers looking to stay fuller between meals and steady their morning energy, the 30-30-30 method has moved out of fitness feeds and into mainstream nutrition coverage. Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 But, other than Chevron, no American energy companies have been willing to rededicate resources there. David Goldman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026 Rooms All 195 rooms are dressed in a soft gray and blue palette, and the energy is calm and soothing after a day in one of the loudest parts of Manhattan. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for energy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for energy
Noun
  • The scale of its attack on the United States gave al-Qaeda an aura of momentum and outsize influence within the jihadi movement and beyond.
    Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The aura of regimented cool that Vanhée created at the Row caught the attention of Hermès executives.
    Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kittle, seven weeks since tearing his right Achilles in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, was seen conditioning with vigor and impressive agility on a side field earlier this week.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Firefighters used foam from specialized airport firefighting units to extinguish the fire, and crews were still dealing with a fuel leak on the plane hours later.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Higher fuel prices didn’t stop Americans from hitting the road this summer, but did end a multi-year streak of big spikes in travel.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But The Debut grows to become something altogether wilder, a fire-breathing encomium to the reality-altering power of acting.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Singapore is leveraging its scarce land, energy, and population to bolster its regulatory and agenda-setting power over data centers and sustainability.
    Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In her latest book, Stay Buried, siblings new to a remote Vermont town discover that the locals live in fear of a vengeful spirit.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
  • But the legacy of the modernist academic-cultural complex blinds us to the mimetic spirit of this new technical logic.
    Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The slight worry is that Zheng will run out of gas at some point after coming through the qualifying tournament and winning six matches in New York.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Coal and gas supply roughly 70% of generation across the top six ASEAN data center markets.
    Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But the country's key stock benchmarks are struggling to reflect that strength, hinting at a festering disconnect between markets and the economy.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • She was invested in young women and keeping the door open for the next generation of leaders, and her advocacy was always about fighting for the strength, intelligence, and dignity of women everywhere.
    Noe Padilla, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Chan’s parents always treated their back pain from laborious food industry jobs with acupuncture and cupping, the practice of using cups or suction on the skin to stimulate blood flow and the flow of chi, or energy.
    Cara Kelly, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Keep scrolling to increase your chi and shop them all—from $8.
    Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/energy. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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