might

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun might contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of might are energy, force, power, and strength. While all these words mean "the ability to exert effort," might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

When is energy a more appropriate choice than might?

While in some cases nearly identical to might, energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

Where would force be a reasonable alternative to might?

The synonyms force and might are sometimes interchangeable, but force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

When would power be a good substitute for might?

The words power and might are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

When could strength be used to replace might?

The meanings of strength and might largely overlap; however, 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 might The big names brought national attention to the theft ring, but other targets slipped by the news media, just as an ordinary burglary might. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 25 Aug. 2025 But just as much as his role in the Ukraine war or the Middle East, his efforts at strongman diplomacy are another indication of the abrupt shift away from a postwar liberal world order in which institutions and international law—in theory if not practice—took precedence over pure might. Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025 The surrounding wave paintings add emotional turbulence, invoking both the physical might and metaphysical vastness of the sea. Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 While the Neutrality Act restricted Roosevelt’s military might, forcing him to wait and watch as the war in Europe escalated, his wife faced no such moral dilemma. Doug Most august 20, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for might
Recent Examples of Synonyms for might
Noun
  • Expect spectacle, but also a story about claiming identity and embracing power.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Boise trustees have the unusual power to increase or decrease property tax collections.
    Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Every individual brings unique needs, preferences and strengths.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • This new gel, however, manages to combine strength, healing, and sensing capabilities in one material, which is a rare feat.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One of the bottlenecks in frequency comb technology has been the high energy required for spectral broadening.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Starting from the questionable proposition that revolutionary movements require energy and that energy in its most basic form is derived from solar rays, Chizhevsky listed some historical developments that lined up with astronomical developments.
    Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This milestone reinforces the company’s commitment to advancing the next generation of loitering munitions—delivering adaptable, scalable, and integrated capabilities to meet the demands of today’s dynamic operational environments, according to AeroVironment (AV).
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Congress has also taken note of the gap between Chinese and American drone capabilities.
    Joseph Nepomuceno, The Washington Examiner, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The company was also finding ways to increase overall storage capacity with existing hardware as well as providing new hardware with greater storage capacity in the same rack space.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In a test setting, the fluid enabled a battery pack to be charged from 10% to 80% capacity in under ten minutes.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Kylie Jenner shared the details of her augmentation on social media this summer—445 ccs, moderate profile, half under the muscle—and other celebrities followed by posting about their own specs.
    Megan McIntyre, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Besides fatigue, the other possible symptoms can be quite vague and non-specific like abdominal discomfort, pain or swelling or unexplained weight loss, muscle loss or muscle weakness.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Might.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/might. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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