potent

adjective

ˈpō-tᵊnt How to pronounce potent (audio)
Definition of potentnext
1
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) a potent tea that is the perfect morning pick-me-up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerful
having great power or influence a potent argument for expanding our program of space exploration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in efficient
producing or capable of producing a desired result potent medicine that can be obtained through a doctor's prescription

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Delta-8 is a genuine cannabinoid receptor agonist, roughly half to two-thirds as potent as delta-9. — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 The choice to honor him perhaps also speaks to the potent influence of Met Gala mastermind Anna Wintour. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 As for sleep benefits, Manaker adds that the melatonin and anthocyanin content in sweet cherries isn’t as potent as in tart cherries. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026 The combination of him and senior safety Jamel Johnson could be potent. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for potent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potent
  1. rich
  2. powerful
  3. efficient
  4. strong
  5. influential
  6. effective
  7. robust
  8. significant
Adjective
  • There’s a rich sense of history here, too, from the naming of all four stands after club legends and former owner Sir Jack Hayward to the statue of England great Billy Wright that sits outside the main entrance on Waterloo Road.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The island is home to rich coastal ecosystems and serves as a nesting place for several species of sea turtles.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rich
Adjective
  • The two progressive, politically powerful unions helped carry Mayor Brandon Johnson into office.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Gratitude is the most powerful and enduring sentiment of all — not because everything’s fine.
    — Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of powerful
Adjective
  • That structure is efficient for most of the season, but poor for a Bench Boost.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine is now looking to export by land, though this is a far less efficient alternative, and Ukraine's beleaguered economy is expected to suffer another hit.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of efficient
Adjective
  • Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency said August and September are expected to be the most critical months as dry vegetation and strong winds create favorable conditions for fires to spread rapidly.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For someone who is dogmatic, or has a strong commitment to evangelism, this may not be satisfactory.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • Yet, with Morgan Gibbs-White often Forest’s most influential player in the No 10 role, McAtee was limited to a bit-part role last season.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The 78-year-old Larson was poised to be influential inside a potential Democratic majority and has led the party on efforts to expand Social Security benefits and fortify the program into the future.
    — Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • That market has boomed even though retatrutide is still being studied in clinical trials and hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe and effective.
    — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The gloves must come into direct contact with the skin and are not effective through clothing or hair, the user manual states.
    — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of effective
Adjective
  • The first crucial step is robust risk management, preventing liabilities from arising.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The robust gains and lack of safety concerns led the Food and Drug Administration to approve Regeneron’s Otarmeni therapy in April for the small group of people with this rare genetic mutation.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of robust
Adjective
  • Low-income Americans who can’t afford to buy into the housing market and who lack a significant presence in the stock market are starting on their back foot.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Apple needs significant upload capacty include the volume of shipping required to bring the iPhones to market.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of significant

Browse Nearby Words

potency
potent
potentate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Potent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potent. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on potent

Nglish: Translation of potent for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All