1
as in authoritative
having power over the minds or behavior of others
in light of the effect that they have had, religious leaders such as Jesus and Muḥammad must be regarded as among the most influential people ever
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerful
having great power or influence
a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of influential
Cashel can specifically point to two women who have played influential roles in her career.
—
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
In his view, Cannes has never been more competitive, more influential or more resistant to the forces reshaping the entertainment industry.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Iowa’s farm lobby remains among the most influential in state politics, and Republican leaders have generally resisted stricter environmental regulations.
—Nik Popli, Time, 3 June 2026
The law applies only to Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties - five of Georgia's most politically influential counties and home to millions of residents.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for influential
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
In his view, Cannes has never been more competitive, more influential or more resistant to the forces reshaping the entertainment industry.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Iowa’s farm lobby remains among the most influential in state politics, and Republican leaders have generally resisted stricter environmental regulations.
—Nik Popli, Time, 3 June 2026
The law applies only to Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties - five of Georgia's most politically influential counties and home to millions of residents.
—Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for influential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential
Adjective
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Silver’s background played an instrumental role in the NBA building a credible and authoritative case to expel Ballmer’s predecessor, Donald Sterling, as Clippers owner after Sterling’s racist comments led to NBA players threatening a boycott and sponsors cutting ties with the Clippers.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
2 June 2026
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Read the authoritative profile of how Wilson has worked to make Homer modern.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Chemical thrusters burn fuel fast and generate a powerful, rapid thrust that is key for changing orbit in seconds.—
Omar Kardoudi
June 05,
New Atlas,
5 June 2026
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There have been numerous conspiracy theories that Epstein was killed because of his connection to wealthy and powerful people.—
Daniel Ruetenik,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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China is North Korea’s top economic lifeline, accounting for the vast majority of the country’s foreign trade, and has long ranked as Pyongyang’s most important diplomatic partner.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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This year, owing to a mixup in the congressional budget, one of the government’s most important scholarships was left severely underfunded, depriving thousands of Peru’s neediest high-school graduates of the opportunity to continue their studies at local universities.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Officials described the discovery as a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across the border.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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The concerns stem from baseball's history of labor disputes and the significant divide between the league and the MLB Players Association on several economic issues.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Spurs bigs Tim Duncan and David Robinson were dominant in Ewing’s absence.—
Esfandiar Baraheni,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
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Boyd continues dominant run Boyd has been a staple in the UIL Texas high school baseball playoffs and is back in the mix in 2026.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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For dinner off the islet, the local fine dining scene is strong with options like Chef Duc’s Mango Rooms, and Mùa by Truc, which are all worth a visit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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There will also be a strong north to south longshore current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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