powerful
/'pauəful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Having great strength, force, or energy: Describes something or someone that can produce a great physical effect.
- Having great influence, authority, or control: Describes a person, group, or thing that can affect people or events significantly.
- Having a strong effect on the mind or senses: Describes something that is very intense or effective.
Adverb:
- (Chiefly Southern US, informal) Very; to a great degree: Used for emphasis.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The powerful engine accelerated the car quickly. (Describing great physical force)
- She is a powerful leader who inspires her team. (Describing great influence or authority)
- The documentary made a powerful argument for conservation. (Describing a strong mental or emotional effect)
- He has a powerful build from years of training. (Describing physical strength)
Adverb:
- It was a powerful hot day. (Meaning: It was a very hot day.)
- He's powerful tired after the long trip. (Meaning: He is very tired.)
Advanced Usage
- "Powerful enough to": Used to indicate that the strength or capability is sufficient for a specific purpose.
- Is this software powerful enough to handle video editing?
- In formal or technical contexts (e.g., physics, politics), "powerful" is used precisely to describe magnitude of force, energy, or influence.
- A powerful magnetic field.
- A powerful lobbying group.
Variants and Related Words
- Powerfully (adverb): In a powerful manner.
- He argued his case powerfully.
- Power (noun): The capacity or ability to do something; strength, force, or control.
- The power of the storm was frightening.
- Powerless (adjective): Without power, strength, or authority.
- She felt powerless to change the situation.
Synonyms
- Strong: Having the power to move heavy weights or perform physically demanding tasks.
- Potent: Having great power, influence, or effect (often used for drugs, arguments, or drinks).
- Mighty: Possessing great and impressive power or strength (can be more literary).
- Forceful: Characterized by force; vigorous and strong.
Antonyms
- Weak: Lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; lacking force.
- Powerless: Lacking strength, power, or authority.
- Ineffective: Not producing any or the desired effect.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- A powerful lot of (informal, regional): A very large amount of.
- That's a powerful lot of money.
- Knowledge is power: (Idiom) The more knowledge one has, the greater one's ability to control events. While it uses the noun "power," it relates to the concept of being powerful.
Adjective
- displaying superhuman strength or power
- herculean exertions
- (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
- a hefty athlete
- a muscular boxer
- powerful arms
- having great influence
- strong enough to knock down or overwhelm
- a knock-down blow
- having great power or force or potency or effect
- the most powerful government in western Europe
- his powerful arms
- a powerful bomb
- the horse's powerful kick
- powerful drugs
- a powerful argument
Adverb
- (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree
- the baby is mighty cute
- he's mighty tired
- it is powerful humid
- that boy is powerful big now
- they have a right nice place
- they rejoiced mightily