all-powerful
/'ɔ:l'pauəful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having unlimited power; omnipotent: Describing an entity, being, or force that possesses absolute and complete authority, control, or influence, with no limits to its power.
Usage
The adjective "all-powerful" is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "be" or "seem"). It is a formal and emphatic term, often used in religious, philosophical, or political contexts to describe supreme authority. - Attributive use: Placed directly before the noun it modifies. - Predicative use: Following a linking verb to describe the subject.
Examples
- Attributive use:
- Many religions believe in an all-powerful god.
- The king was portrayed as an all-powerful ruler.
- Predicative use:
- In that ancient empire, the emperor was considered all-powerful.
- No government should be all-powerful; checks and balances are essential.
Advanced Usage
- "The all-powerful": Used as a nominal phrase (functioning as a noun) to refer to a supreme being or authority.
- They prayed to the all-powerful for mercy.
- Used to describe abstract forces or systems perceived as overwhelmingly dominant.
- In the digital age, some feel that algorithms are becoming all-powerful.
Variants and Related Words
- Omnipotent (adj): A direct synonym, often used in theological contexts. (e.g., )
- Almighty (adj): Another close synonym, frequently capitalized as "the Almighty" to refer to God. (e.g., )
Synonyms
- Omnipotent
- Almighty
- Supreme
- Unlimited in power
Antonyms
- Powerless
- Impoverished
- Weak
- Ineffectual
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "All-powerful state": A common phrase in political discourse describing a government with total control over its citizens.
- The novel depicts a dystopian future with an all-powerful state.
- While "all-powerful" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs, it is conceptually related to the idea of "wielding absolute power."
Adjective
- having unlimited power