powerful

adjective

ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce powerful (audio)
Definition of powerfulnext
as in influential
having great power or influence a powerful producer in the music business who is considered responsible for the careers of several superstars

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 powerful There were 12 people on the call, including high-achieving scientists and, crucially, a small group of powerful science administrators. — Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 29 July 2026 Finally, the movement gains its strength from the powerful idea of restoring democracy. — John Kostyack, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 What happened Search teams have rescued eight people from the ruins of a shopping center after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Japanese island of Kyushu on Tuesday. — Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 29 July 2026 But others, like the powerful Kataib Hezbollah — which is especially close to Iran — have refused. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for powerful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for powerful
  1. influential
  2. significant
  3. strong
  4. important
Adjective
  • With the rise of modern conservatism in the ’70s and ’80s, Main said influential figures on the right began to approach politics as war.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
  • In just a few years, TikTok Shop went from an experimental social commerce platform to one of beauty’s most influential discovery engines and a fast-growing sales channel.
    — Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of influential
Adjective
  • Viridi stated that the partnership represents a significant step in its mission to bring safe, reliable battery energy storage to the infrastructure applications that matter most, from grid modernization research to real-world utility deployment.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Braves have made a second significant deal ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • Sustained high performance by firms that treat customer value as primary remains the strongest empirical rebuttal.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Second baseman Amira Hondras, coming off a strong women’s baseball World Cup debut last week, tied the game in the at-bat prior with a single up the middle to set up Villareal’s heroics.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of strong
Adjective
  • The most important rule of any total solar eclipse is to be inside the narrow path of totality rather than merely close to it.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The most important way that European landscapes are changing is that unprecedented numbers of people are leaving rural areas, a phenomenon that has accelerated in the last fifty years.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of important

Browse Nearby Words

powered
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Cite this Entry

“Powerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/powerful. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of powerful for Spanish Speakers

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