mighty

American  

[mahy-tee] / ˈmaɪ ti /

adjective

• mightier,
  comparative
• mightiest
  superlative

1. having, characterized by, or showing superior power or strength.

   mighty rulers.

   Synonyms:

   puissant, strong

   Antonyms:

   feeble

2. of great size; huge.

   a mighty oak.

   Synonyms:

   sizable, tremendous, enormous, immense

   Antonyms:

   small

3. great in amount, extent, degree, or importance; exceptional.

   a mighty accomplishment.

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adverb

1. Informal. very; extremely.

   I'm mighty pleased.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. mighty persons collectively.

   the rich and the mighty.

mighty British  

/ ˈmaɪtɪ /

adjective

1. 1. having or indicating might; powerful or strong

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the mighty

2. very large; vast

3. very great in extent, importance, etc

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adverb

1. informal (intensifier)

   he was mighty tired

mighty Idioms  

1. see high and mighty.

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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

• mightiness
  noun
• overmighty
  adjective
• quasi-mighty
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Adjectives

• mightier
  comparative
• mightiest
  superlative

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mighty mightier mightiest

“They can. They do. … And if that’s the case, the lords of the sport are going to be mighty happy.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

A once mighty political force in Scotland has just 17 MSPs now.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Frank Bowman, law professor and former federal and state prosecutor, writes in Slate about how lawmakers should approach this mighty task.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

The waters of the mighty Danube, Europe's second longest river, have dropped in parts to a record low due to prolonged rain shortages and successive heatwaves that have parched the continent since May.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

Below us is the expansive ocean, the mighty waves that make thick white lines along the reef.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

"Nobody is questioning that the American military is mightier and stronger than the Iranians'," Martin said.

From Barron's ● May 11, 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

The trick, of course, is to envision us as something mightier than we are in order to validate what is then done to us.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

‘Not Saruman’s, that is plain. Is there some mightier sage, of whom we have yet to learn?’

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

But the mightiest one for sure was Merlin, who became co-hosts Mexico's World Cup "ambassador" after videos of the family pet were shared on social media.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

One comic gimmick involves Appa’s superhuman grip that can subdue even the mightiest of men.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 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

He was still in his mid-20s when he made, within the space of 12 months, both “Strike” and “Battleship Potemkin,” two of the mightiest peaks in silent cinema.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025

But even the mightiest sea creatures were afraid of those huge spinning propeller blades.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• enormous
• huge
• imposing
• large
• magnificent
• massive
• towering