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
China and Russia do not have large gold reserves compared to other economic superpowers, leading them to heavily invest in gold in the last decade.
—Victor Rosario, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
With the ability to change his form at will, Clayface is one of the few classic Batman rogues to actually display superpowers.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
The call on Monday between the Chinese and Russian leaders came as the Kremlin tries to keep its partner nations on its side, while pursuing a warming of relations with the United States, a country Mr. Putin has long derided as an irresponsible global superpower.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
The tussle between America, the incumbent superpower, and China, a rising one, will remain the most profound challenge for large middle powers like India.
—Vasuki Shastry, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superpower
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Victor Rosario, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025
With the ability to change his form at will, Clayface is one of the few classic Batman rogues to actually display superpowers.
—Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
The call on Monday between the Chinese and Russian leaders came as the Kremlin tries to keep its partner nations on its side, while pursuing a warming of relations with the United States, a country Mr. Putin has long derided as an irresponsible global superpower.
—David Pierson, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
The tussle between America, the incumbent superpower, and China, a rising one, will remain the most profound challenge for large middle powers like India.
—Vasuki Shastry, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superpower
Cite this Entry
“Superpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superpower. Accessed 8 Mar. 2025.
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superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: an extremely powerful nation
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