power 1 of 2

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as in faculty
a natural ability of the mind or body dogs have a very highly developed power of smell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in fuel
something with a usable capacity for doing work nuclear power

Synonyms & Similar Words

power

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun power contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of power are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When can authority be used instead of power?

Although the words authority and power have much in common, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When might command be a better fit than power?

While in some cases nearly identical to power, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for power?

The meanings of control and power largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

In what contexts can dominion take the place of power?

The words dominion and power are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When could jurisdiction be used to replace power?

The synonyms jurisdiction and power are sometimes interchangeable, but jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would sway be a reasonable alternative to power?

In some situations, the words sway and power are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of power
Noun
If the Heat doesn’t extend that qualifying offer, Mitchell would become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Miami would lose the power to always have an opportunity match outside offers. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025 But that, in itself, speaks to the power of acknowledging reality onscreen — even in science-fiction. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2025
Verb
The Mystics opened their season on Friday with a 94-90 home win over the Atlanta Dream, powered by 22 points from star guard Brittany Sykes, plus 19 from rookie Sonia Citron in an impressive pro debut. Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025 Australia’s Anthony Albanese claimed a historic second term as prime minister on Saturday in a dramatic comeback against once-resurgent conservatives that was powered by voters' concerns about the influence of U.S. President Donald Trump. Kirsty Needham, USA Today, 4 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for power
Recent Examples of Synonyms for power
Noun
  • According to the agencies, the GRU hackers also carried out reconnaissance of the network of at least one producer of industrial control system components for railway systems—suggesting a possible intention to attempt sabotage—but didn’t actually succeed in breaching the company.
    Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • By pinpointing high-privilege users and monitoring data-sharing behaviors, Reco assists CISOs in implementing stricter access controls.
    Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The crypto and blockchain sectors require tech-savvy developers, compliance officers, clean energy producers, lawyers, financial analysts, and marketing professionals.
    Jeremy Cooney, New York Daily News, 30 May 2025
  • The Sacramento Bee reached out to energy experts to find out the answer: Does setting my thermostat to 78 degrees actually save me money?
    Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • While reluctant to leave his family and friends, he’s applied to faculty positions in Canada and France.
    Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • In February, Mount Carmel faculty named him Student of the Month for the Class of 2029.
    Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • McDowell further explained that the white streak was caused by the fuel dump from the upper stage at about 155 miles (250 kilometers) altitude.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 19 May 2025
  • Israel has blocked the entry of medical, food and fuel supplies into Gaza since the start of March to try to pressure Hamas into freeing Israeli hostages and has approved plans that could involve seizing the entire Gaza strip and controlling aid.
    Nidal al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Verb
  • As Nuno pointed out, the player of the season award could reasonably have been renamed the ‘team of the season award’ during a campaign in which Forest followed up back-to-back fights against relegation by pushing for Champions League qualification.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Some of the administration's pressure tactics: threatening to take away Harvard's non-profit status, freezing $3 billion in federal grant dollars, barring the university from enrolling foreign students, and pushing Congress to increase taxes on university endowments.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Indian spirituality, with its emphasis on the interconnectedness of life, was an important check on the hubris of American individualism and biblical notions of how the world had been given by God to man to have dominion over.
    Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • By making his milieu familiar to a modern audience, Hytner and Bailey ignore the profound strangeness of Richard, who gains dominion over himself only by letting a nation slip through his fingers.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • While there is a public confidence in the strength of the alliance, there are concerns about gaping capability gaps across Europe.
    Ellie Cook — reporting from Rovajärvi, northern Finland, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • This will, in turn, redefine your sense of independence and strength, urging you to balance that fire and passion with responsibility and integrity.
    Valerie Mesa, People.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • But those rules became even stricter under Trump and barred Nvidia from selling the chips in China, even after the company pared down their capabilities.
    Kevin Ryan, Quartz, 19 May 2025
  • Hewlett-Packard Enterprise recently announced similar capabilities for its B10000 Alletra storage systems.
    Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Power.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/power. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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