as in powers
an extremely powerful nation
The country had become an economic superpower.
Related Words
Relevance
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 superpowers
As decolonization transformed fading colonial empires into a hundred new nations, rival superpowers dispatched covert operatives, latter-day men on the spot, to win over those emerging states by any means necessary.
—
Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
But there is little doubt, officials and experts say, that spying efforts are intensifying as the world’s two dominant superpowers, the United States and China, battle for superiority across economic, technological, military and ideological fronts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
The findings quantify a global shift — emphasized most recently by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China this week and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s last month — in which Beijing is courting Washington’s traditional partners, nations now hedging between the superpowers.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
No child should need superpowers to survive a genocide.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2026
Part of Klæbo’s superpowers are his uncanny knowledge of his own body.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
But the only senior starter on Santa Margarita’s team didn’t mind the meeting of superpowers.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
Her ascent coincides with a shifting economic landscape, with new superpowers emerging.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
While the duo has long wanted to work together on a project sans superpowers, Hemsworth admits in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that playing such wildly different characters presented unique challenges.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
But there is little doubt, officials and experts say, that spying efforts are intensifying as the world’s two dominant superpowers, the United States and China, battle for superiority across economic, technological, military and ideological fronts.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 26 Feb. 2026
The findings quantify a global shift — emphasized most recently by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China this week and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s last month — in which Beijing is courting Washington’s traditional partners, nations now hedging between the superpowers.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 24 Feb. 2026
No child should need superpowers to survive a genocide.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 21 Feb. 2026
Part of Klæbo’s superpowers are his uncanny knowledge of his own body.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
But the only senior starter on Santa Margarita’s team didn’t mind the meeting of superpowers.
—Martin Henderson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
Her ascent coincides with a shifting economic landscape, with new superpowers emerging.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
While the duo has long wanted to work together on a project sans superpowers, Hemsworth admits in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that playing such wildly different characters presented unique challenges.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for superpowers
Noun
-
Industrial heating powers everything from chemical production to large-scale manufacturing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Each one contains a fully rechargeable lithium-ion battery — the same type that powers phones, laptops and electric cars.—
Ryan Brennan
March 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Oseguera Cervantes’ killing set off retaliation by the cartel in numerous states.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Most Arab and Muslim states, which have been hit with Iranian missiles, are for the moment expressing opposition to the regime and supporting the attack.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If empires could assign names to vast mountain ranges—Hindu Kush, from the Persian kushtan, to kill—with administrative casualness, as if naming could override geological fact, why not render those summits as battered cookware?—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
-
As decolonization transformed fading colonial empires into a hundred new nations, rival superpowers dispatched covert operatives, latter-day men on the spot, to win over those emerging states by any means necessary.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Attacks on other Gulf states Qatar and Bahrain also came under attack, piercing the kingdoms’ polished image as luxurious havens in an unstable region.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
But these are relatively new arrivals on Earth; all three kingdoms are less than one billion years old.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Superpowers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/superpowers. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
