powerful

adjective

pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce powerful (audio)
1
: having great power, prestige, or influence
a powerful leader
2
: leading to many or important deductions
a powerful set of postulates

Examples of powerful in a Sentence

The country is becoming more and more powerful. powerful drugs that attack cancer cells The cash bonus provides a powerful incentive to workers. The perfume has a powerful smell. It's a very powerful movie. The dog has a powerful body. She has a powerful voice. The weapons are very powerful. The aardvark uses its powerful claws to dig for food.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The first night of Battles on The Voice featured some big moves, most notably John Legend and Adam Levine whipping out one of their most powerful tools as coaches: the save. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 11 Mar. 2025 But Trump sees tariffs as a powerful tool to either protect the domestic economy from unfair global competition, or to force much better trading terms for the U.S. from those who, in his view, are taking advantage at the expense of American firms and consumers. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 However, to encounter Diane Von Furstenberg, her life, her fashion line, her accomplishments, is to experience an exhibition that belongs at the Skirball and speaks to that institution’s mandate, as a powerful expression of Jewish identity and culture. Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025 Android smartphone delivers a sleek design, powerful performance, and lightning-fast charging with a wild $400 discount. Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for powerful

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of powerful was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Powerful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/powerful. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

powerful

adjective
pow·​er·​ful ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl How to pronounce powerful (audio)
: full of or having power or influence : strong, effective
powerfully adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on powerful

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