- 1(of people) being able to control and influence people and events synonym influential an immensely powerful organization one of the most powerful directors in Hollywood a rich and powerful man Only the intervention of powerful friends obtained her release.
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- 2having great power or force; very effective powerful weapons a powerful engine a powerful voice a powerful telescope I traded my computer in for a more powerful model.
- 3having a strong effect on your mind or body a powerful image/drug/speech Television may have a powerful influence on children. Fear is a powerful emotion. There is a powerful argument for changing the law.
- 4(of a person or an animal) physically strong synonym muscular a powerful body a powerful athlete
NAmE//ˈpaʊərfli//
adverb a powerfully emotive song He is powerfully built (= he has a large strong body). She argued powerfully for reform.See powerful in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: powerful