superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 
1
: excessive or superior power
2
a
: an extremely powerful nation
specifically
: one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites
b
: an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states
c
: an extremely powerful company, organization, etc.
The retailer hoped to become a financial services superpower …—
Patricia Sellers
Patricia Sellers3
: a power or ability (such as the ability to become invisible or to fly) of the kind possessed by superheroes : a superhuman power
The Fantastic Four first appeared in November 1961, originating with four friends who journeyed to space to thwart the Russians from getting there first. They were overwhelmed by a menacing radiation cloud and their molecular structure was altered, giving each of them superpowers.—Laura Mattoon D'Amore
Laura Mattoon D'AmoreThe superpower I've always wished for is invisibility, and I chose my vocation accordingly. A novelist gets 140,000 words per one tiny author photo. That's a visibility ratio I can live with.—Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara KingsolverExamples of superpower in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Will Trump give up the chance for great deals?
7) Ukraine is also a tech superpower that already shares innovative information with the U.S. military.
—Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025
Canada is a natural resource superpower, and this fact would become part of the U.S.
Second, Canada has vast unexploited potential, which would further boost U.S. GDP and GDP per capita over the medium-term.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Tensions between the two superpowers have ebbed and flowed on a range of issues including trade and Taiwan, making it at times more difficult to cooperate on unauthorized migration, an issue where both countries share some common interests.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
China has supplanted the Soviet Union as the United States’ principal rival—a superpower that is both economically and technologically more formidable than the Soviets ever were.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
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Trudy Rubin, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2025
Canada is a natural resource superpower, and this fact would become part of the U.S.
Second, Canada has vast unexploited potential, which would further boost U.S. GDP and GDP per capita over the medium-term.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Tensions between the two superpowers have ebbed and flowed on a range of issues including trade and Taiwan, making it at times more difficult to cooperate on unauthorized migration, an issue where both countries share some common interests.
—Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
China has supplanted the Soviet Union as the United States’ principal rival—a superpower that is both economically and technologically more formidable than the Soviets ever were.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for superpower
Dictionary Entries Near superpower
Cite this Entry
“Superpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superpower. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: an extremely powerful nation
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