as in power
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task
the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort
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Recent Examples of puissance
The reboot arrives at the peak of reggaeton’s pop puissance, and rightfully incorporates a lot more of the genre and its offshoots — Latin trap included.
—
Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021
Which of you has the puissance to short-term deep-six me?
—Henry Alford, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2021
The doctrine’s puissance lies in the separation of powers.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020
Over the years, when French leaders have called for a Europe puissance (European power), this has often sounded suspiciously like code for French hegemonic ambitions.
—The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019
There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus.
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017
Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021
Which of you has the puissance to short-term deep-six me?
—Henry Alford, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2021
The doctrine’s puissance lies in the separation of powers.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020
Over the years, when French leaders have called for a Europe puissance (European power), this has often sounded suspiciously like code for French hegemonic ambitions.
—The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019
There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus.
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puissance
Noun
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Fully built out, the data center will pull a gigawatt from Arkansas' power grid, which is enough to power approximately 750,000 homes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Archaeologists discovered two astonishing Iron Age hoards in North Yorkshire, one of them being the largest ever found in British history, which has changed the historical understanding of wealth and power in pre-Roman Britain.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Slow running also increases the size and strength of your heart chambers, increases blood volume, and improves the strength of your connective tissues, tendons, and bones, Hamilton adds.—
Jenny McCoy,
SELF,
20 Mar. 2026
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If there have been too many mini-resets for the comfort of the supporters, a strength of Howe’s Newcastle has been absorbing lessons and responding, at least some of the time.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
From cargo ships crossing the ocean to the delivery van pulling up to your door, rising fuel and other energy prices are driving up the cost of transporting goods.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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The Royals came out with great energy and trailed by just five with three minutes left in the half before Purdue created separation with a 10-0 run to take a 15-point lead.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puissance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puissance. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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