Our team competed with a powerful rival.
Source: tatoeba (23457)
Powerful
/ˈpaʊəfl̩/
Synonyms for "powerful" (325 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (65)
Adjective(13 words)
potentauthoritativebrawnycloutycompellingconvincingcrucial factordominantdramatic impactdutch krachtearthshaking eventeffective rulereloquent writing
Noun(8 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (98)
energeticestimableex officioexceedinglyexhaustiveforcefulforcibleforcyformidablefullfull bloodedfull-bloodedfull-strengthgoverninggrandgravegreatgutsyguttyhale
Show 26 more words
Adjective(35 words)
energetic classenergetic presentationenergetic processforcefulforceful argumentforceful assertionforceful messageforceful personalityforceful speechformidablegerman einflussgerman kraft engineeringgreat influencegreatest presenceheavy thrustheftyherculeanhigh degree of forcefulnesshigh energyhigh energy environment
Show 15 more words
high energy sciencehigh impacthigh-energyhighest energy contentimpactfulimpactiveindustrial magnateinfluentialinfluential advocateinfluential figureinfluential personintense electromagnetic radiationintense energyintense feelingkey influence
Noun(12 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Adverb(2 words)
forcefully expressed opinionforcefully worded statement
Related words (162)
kinglyleadinglustymagneticmainmaximummightymighty in battlemomentousmonocraticmordantnervousnervyobstinateofficialoperativeoverpoweringpenetratingpersonablepersuasive
Show 70 more words
piercingplenarypoignantpotentpowerpowerfullypreeminentprepotentprestigiousprettyprevailingprivilegedprominentpuissantpunchyquiterankingrealreallyred bloodedred-bloodedreputableresilientresonantrobustrobustiousruggedrulingseniorsensationalserioussignificantsinewedsinewyslashingsosolidstalwartsteelystiffstoutstrappingstrikingstrongstrong as brandystrong as strongstrong willedstrong-willedsturdysuasivesubstantialsuperiorsupremetellingterriblyterrificallytotaltotalitariantoughtrenchantvalidvehementveryvigorousviolentvitalvividweightywieldywinning
Adjective(34 words)
knock-downmightymover shakermovingmuscularold norse strengroverwhelmingpersuasivepolitical influencepowerful personpunchiestpunchy phrasingsinewyspanish influenciastrongstrong behavioral traitstrong constitutional frameworkstrong effectstrong evidencestrong hint
Noun(25 words)
knockoutlatin energialobbying powermagnitude of applied forcemore forcefulmore forceful critiquemore intensemost energeticmost forcefulmost forceful defensemost intensenarrative resonancenorwegian kraftpolitically influential figureprocessing powerschool leadership influencesockingstrong cleaning solventstrong educational backgroundstrong influence
Show 5 more words
Verb(2 words)
Preposition(1 words)
with great force
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: potent, absolute, acid, active, almighty.
- dominant: 'Dominant' emphasizes control over others, a dominant player, a dominant position. It's power expressed through hierarchy.
- Sentence evidence is available for powerful, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "powerful".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "powerful"
Keep "powerful" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "powerful" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "powerful", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "powerful" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
How these synonyms differ
- dominant - 'Dominant' emphasizes control over others, a dominant player, a dominant position. It's power expressed through hierarchy.
- formidable - 'Formidable' means powerful enough to inspire fear or deep respect. A formidable opponent makes you reconsider whether to compete at all.
- influential - 'Influential' is soft power, no force or authority, just the ability to shape how others think and act.
- mighty - 'Mighty' is grander and more archaic, it evokes warriors, rivers, and empires. Use it when 'powerful' feels too clinical.
- potent - 'Potent' implies concentrated effectiveness, a potent drug, a potent argument. The power is packed into something compact.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
10 entriesMore specific
11 entriesbusiness leadercelebritycompelling argumentinfluentialleadermightymilitary commanderpolicy makerpoliticianpotentstrong rhetoric
Collocations
11 entriespowerful argumentpowerful enginepowerful evidencepowerful forcepowerful grouppowerful impactpowerful influencepowerful leaderpowerful personpowerful presencethe powerful
Inflections
2 entriesmore powerfulmost powerful
Derivations
2 entriesAntonyms
1 entriessimilar
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
Matt is a powerful acquisition for our team.
Source: tatoeba (32517)
Indeed this car is small, but it is powerful.
Source: tatoeba (36251)
Jack is a powerful acquisition for our team.
Source: tatoeba (53127)
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "powerful"?
Closest matches include potent, absolute, acid, active, almighty.
How is "dominant" different from "powerful"?
'Dominant' emphasizes control over others, a dominant player, a dominant position. It's power expressed through hierarchy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "powerful"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.