powerful
POW-uhfl
Powerful (adj) means having great strength, influence, or effect. Example: “A powerful storm swept across the island and knocked out the electricity.”
adj
1
Having great strength, influence, or effect.
"Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere — an invisible bubble of magnetism generated by the powerful churning of molten metals at Earth’s core."
— Mindy Weisberger, Ancient bricks baked when Nebuchadnezzar II was king absorbed a power surge in Earth’s magnetic field (2023)
"A powerful storm swept across the island and knocked out the electricity."
"She gave a powerful speech that moved the whole audience."
"The powerful engine let the truck haul heavy loads with ease."
How to use powerful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving a great deal of strength, influence, or effect on something.
Common pairings
powerful engine
powerful speech
powerful nation
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more powerful
- Superlative
- most powerful
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A _____ storm swept across the island and knocked out the electricity.
Etymology
Formed from power + the suffix -ful, meaning "full of".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for powerful
See all rhymes for powerful →Frequently asked questions
What does “powerful” mean?
The word “powerful” means having great strength, influence, or effect. In plain terms, having a great deal of strength, influence, or effect on something.
How do you pronounce “powerful”?
“Powerful” is pronounced POW-uhfl (/ˈpaʊɚfl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “powerful” in a sentence?
Here is “powerful” used in a sentence: “She gave a powerful speech that moved the whole audience.”
What is another word for “powerful”?
Words with a similar meaning to “powerful” include mightful, mighty, potent, powersome, strengthful and strong.
What is the opposite of “powerful”?
The opposite of “powerful” — its antonyms — are powerless and strengthless.
What part of speech is “powerful”?
“Powerful” is an adjective.
Is “powerful” a common word?
“Powerful” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between 'powerful' and 'strong'?
The two overlap, but 'strong' usually points to physical force or sturdiness, while 'powerful' adds the ability to influence, control, or produce a large effect. A strong person has muscle; a powerful person has authority. A strong smell is intense, but a powerful argument actually changes minds.
What is the opposite of 'powerful'?
The main opposites are 'weak' and 'powerless.' 'Weak' stresses a lack of strength or force, while 'powerless' stresses a lack of control or influence — being unable to act or affect an outcome. 'Feeble' and 'ineffective' can also serve, depending on whether you mean strength or effect.
Is 'powerful' a positive word?
It is usually positive or neutral, suggesting capability, strength, and impact. But it depends on who holds the power and how it is used — 'a powerful dictator' carries a clear warning. The word describes the scale of strength or influence, not whether that force is used for good.
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