mighty
Americanadjective
-
having, characterized by, or showing superior power or strength.
mighty rulers.
- Antonyms:
- feeble
-
of great size; huge.
a mighty oak.
- Synonyms:
- sizable, tremendous, enormous, immense
- Antonyms:
- small
-
great in amount, extent, degree, or importance; exceptional.
a mighty accomplishment.
adverb
noun
adjective
-
-
having or indicating might; powerful or strong
-
( as collective noun; preceded by the )
the mighty
-
-
very large; vast
-
very great in extent, importance, etc
adverb
Usage
What does mighty mean? Mighty means extremely strong (as in a mighty warrior) or powerful (as in a mighty king). The noun might most commonly means great strength or power. People who are mighty in this way are sometimes referred to collectively as the mighty, in the same way that the rich is sometimes used, as in The rich and mighty hold all the power. The expression how the mighty have fallen is used to comment on a once powerful or popular person or thing that is now much less powerful or popular. Mighty can also mean of great size—especially big for its kind, as in a mighty oak. Less commonly, mighty means of great importance, as in a mighty accomplishment. Sometimes, mighty is used as a very informal way of saying very or extremely, as in That’s a mighty fine hat you’re wearing. This use of mighty can sound a bit old-fashioned or folksy. The adverb form of mighty is mightily. The phrase high and mighty is often used as an adverb meaning in an arrogant or self-important manner, as in Please stop acting so high and mighty—you’re not the boss here. It can also be used as an adjective, in which case it’s often hyphenated (high-and-mighty). The phrase can also be used as a collective noun in the same way that mighty can, as in The high and mighty take too much and give too little. Example: He was a mighty ruler, and his empire extended to the ends of the earth.
Synonym Usage
See powerful.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of mighty
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English mihtig; see might 2, -y 1
Explanation
Something that's mighty is large and powerful. Mighty Mouse is no ordinary mouse; he's a superhero. It's best not to mess with anyone with mighty in their name. A mighty beast in a fairy tale is ferocious and intimidating, and a mighty power in the business world exerts great influence. Colloquially, you can also use mighty to emphasize something, or to mean "extremely." This informal use is especially common in the U.S. South, where a host might say, "We're mighty glad to have you!" Mighty comes from the Old English root mæht, "strength or power."
Vocabulary lists containing mighty
"Death, be not proud" by John Donne
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Roberto Clemente: Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Strong
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In 1867 he seized the mighty New York Central in a fight with its new management by cutting off New York City from all rail traffic to the interior, causing its stock price to collapse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
The race was shaking out to be mighty close, and as the first initial votes were tallied, Pratt was leading Raman for the second spot behind Bass, but by Sunday Raman began to pull ahead.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Danes’ Emmy longevity may not equal the likes of Carol Burnett, nominated in 2024 for “Palm Royale” 62 years after her first, but it’s mighty impressive for someone Danes’ age.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
When he said the other day that Daizen Maeda's contribution in the nerve-jangling final weeks of the league season was "absolutely Larssonesque" it was a mighty claim, but could any Celtic fan argue the point?
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
“This is a mighty impressive office you have here, sir,” Daddy said, looking around the room as President Davis settled in behind his desk.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
The dollar has always been mightier than the size of the U.S. economy suggests it should be.
From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026
But while his influence has certainly grown mightier over the decade since “The People v. O.J. Simpson” conquered the 2016 TV season, the quality and memorability of most of his work since has fallen.
From Salon ● Feb. 12, 2026
The bigger the overshoot window, the mightier the cost.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 26, 2024
Marvel is still mightier than any other brand in the business.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 27, 2023
It was rumored, however, that Bellerophon had a mightier father, Poseidon himself, the Ruler of the Sea, and the youth’s surpassing gifts of spirit and body made this account of his birth seem likely.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
The Bank of England made the British Empire the mightiest in the world, but the North American colonies remained a financial backwater as they struggled to assert their independence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Like their hero, the only masculine strength they seem interested in is the kind performed for cameras, far away from real-world challenges that might easily defeat their self-image as the mightiest of men.
From Salon ● Mar. 13, 2026
But as for who is mightiest between the two heavyweights, the 25-year-old said Tuesday's match will tell.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2025
Morgan, doing his mightiest to make a statement, which he did, went over from an Alex Mitchell pass.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
But even the mightiest sea creatures were afraid of those huge spinning propeller blades.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
