puissant
/'pju:isnt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Powerful, mighty, or potent: Describes something or someone possessing great strength, force, influence, or effectiveness. It is a formal, literary, and somewhat archaic term.
Usage and Examples
General Usage: Used to describe entities with formidable power or influence.
- The king was a puissant ruler, feared by his enemies.
- They developed a puissant new engine for the spacecraft.
Literary/Formal Context: Commonly found in historical, poetic, or formal writing.
- The poem speaks of puissant gods ruling over the mortal realm.
- The general's puissant strategy led to a decisive victory.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Archaic/Historical Connotation: The word carries an old-fashioned flavor, often evoking images of medieval or classical power.
- In the ancient tales, knights sought puissant swords forged by dwarves.
- Figurative Use: Can describe abstract forces or qualities.
- She made a puissant argument that convinced the entire committee.
Variants and Related Words
- Puissantly (adverb): In a powerful or mighty manner.
- The army advanced puissantly against the fortress.
- Puissance (noun): The quality of being puissant; power, might. (Note: This is a separate, related noun, not the adjective itself).
- The puissance of the ocean waves was awe-inspiring.
Synonyms
- Powerful
- Mighty
- Potent
- Forceful
- Formidable
Antonyms
- Weak
- Powerless
- Impotent
- Feeble
Idioms and Fixed Phrases
- None directly associated with the isolated word 'puissant'. It is typically used as a standalone descriptive adjective.