powerful Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective 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
  2. adjective satellite strong enough to knock down or overwhelm
    knock-down.
    • a knock-down blow
  3. adjective satellite having great influence
    potent.
  4. adjective satellite (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful
    hefty; brawny; muscular; sinewy.
    • a hefty athlete
    • a muscular boxer
    • powerful arms
  5. adjective satellite displaying superhuman strength or power
    herculean.
    • herculean exertions
  6. adverb (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree
    right; mighty; mightily.
    • 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

WordNet

Pow"er*ful adjective
Definitions
  1. Full of power; capable of producing great effects of any kind; potent; mighty; efficacious; intense; as, a powerful man or beast; a powerful engine; a powerful argument; a powerful light; a powerful vessel.
    The powerful grace that lies In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities. Shak.
  2. (Mining) Large; capacious; -- said of veins of ore. Syn. -- Mighty; strong; potent; forcible; efficacious; energetic; intense. -- Pow"er*ful*ly, adv. -- Pow"er*ful*ness, n.

Webster 1913