POWERFUL

herculean, powerful

(adjective) displaying superhuman strength or power; “herculean exertions”

powerful

(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”

potent, powerful

(adjective) having great influence

brawny, hefty, muscular, powerful, sinewy

(adjective) (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; “a hefty athlete”; “a muscular boxer”; “powerful arms”

powerful, knock-down(a)

(adjective) strong enough to knock down or overwhelm; “a knock-down blow”

mighty, mightily, powerful, right

(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”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

powerful (comparative more powerful or powerfuller or powerfuler, superlative most powerful)

Having, or capable of exerting power, potency or influence.

(mining) Large; capacious; said of veins of ore.

Synonyms

• mightful

• mighty

• powersome

• strengthful

• strong

• forceful

Antonyms

• powerless

• strengthless

Adverb

powerful (comparative more powerful, superlative most powerful)

(Southern US) synonym of very

Anagrams

• powreful

Source: Wiktionary

Pow"er*ful, a.

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)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition