| / English Dictionary |
POWERFUL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Displaying superhuman strength or power
Example:
herculean exertions
Synonyms:
herculean; powerful
Classified under:
Similar:
superhuman (above or beyond the human or demanding more than human power or endurance)
Derivation:
powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Having great power or force or potency or effect
Example:
a powerful argument
Classified under:
Similar:
regnant; reigning; ruling (exercising power or authority)
regent (acting or functioning as a regent or ruler)
puissant (powerful)
potent; strong (having or wielding force or authority)
muscular (having or suggesting great physical power or force)
mighty (having or showing great strength or force or intensity)
compelling (driving or forcing)
coercive (serving or intended to coerce)
all-powerful; almighty; omnipotent (having unlimited power)
Also:
potent; stiff; strong (having a strong physiological or chemical effect)
effective; effectual; efficacious (producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect)
strong (having strength or power greater than average or expected)
Attribute:
power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)
Antonym:
powerless (lacking power)
Derivation:
powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Having great influence
Synonyms:
potent; powerful
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
influential (having or exercising influence or power)
Derivation:
powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)
Sense 4
Meaning:
(of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
Example:
powerful arms
Synonyms:
brawny; hefty; muscular; powerful; sinewy
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
strong (having strength or power greater than average or expected)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Strong enough to knock down or overwhelm
Example:
a knock-down blow
Synonyms:
knock-down; powerful
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
strong (having strength or power greater than average or expected)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree
Example:
they rejoiced mightily
Synonyms:
mightily; mighty; powerful; right
Classified under:
Domain usage:
intensifier; intensive (a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies)
Context examples:
A powerful, temporary tensing of the uterine muscles that is stronger than previously felt movements.
(Intense Uterine Contraction, NCI Thesaurus)
We thought that very massive stars with the chemical composition typical of our galaxy must shed most of their gas in powerful stellar winds, as they approach the end of their life.
(Unpredicted stellar black hole discovered by astronomers, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
The study also shows that neurons infected by LACV can be rescued by interferon, a powerful antiviral protein.
(Cerebral organoid model provides clues about how to prevent virus-induced brain cell death, National Institutes of Health)
Powerful hydrothermal vents eject material from Enceladus' core, which mixes with water from the moon's massive subsurface ocean before it is released into space as water vapor and ice grains.
(New Organic Compounds Found in Enceladus Ice Grains, NASA)
Today’s gene targeting technologies are very powerful, but often require some functional understanding of the underlying gene to yield useful results and usually only target one or a few genes.
(Harnessing tomato jumping genes could help speed-breed drought-resistant crops, University of Cambridge)
The Akita is a powerful, solid, well-proportioned and distinctive looking dog.
(Akita, NCI Thesaurus)
The English Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a powerful and muscular dog, with a broad head and very strong jaws.
(English Staffordshire Terrier, NCI Thesaurus)
Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections.
(Antibiotics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
God was more powerful, as he said, Whom thunder hath made greater.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Even if your own feelings were reluctant or indifferent, to consider what powerful supports would be his!
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
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