potent

¹ American  

[poht-nt] / ˈpoʊt nt /

adjective

1. powerful; mighty.

   a potent fighting force.

   Synonyms:

   puissant, strong

   Antonyms:

   weak

2. cogent; persuasive.

   Several potent arguments were in his favor.

3. producing powerful physical or chemical effects.

   a potent drug.

4. having or exercising great power or influence.

   a potent factor in the economy.

   Synonyms:

   influential

   Antonyms:

   ineffectual

5. (of a male) capable of sexual intercourse.

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potent ² American  

[poht-nt] / ˈpoʊt nt /

noun

1. a fur having a pattern of T -shaped forms, placed in alternate directions and having alternating tinctures, one metal and one color, so that all forms of one tincture face the same way and are between, above, and below forms of the other tincture facing the other way.

2. a T -shaped form used in potent or counterpotent.

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adjective

1. (of a cross) having a crosspiece at the extremity of each arm.

   a cross potent.

potent ¹ British  

/ ˈpəʊtənt /

adjective

1. possessing great strength; powerful

2. (of arguments, etc) persuasive or forceful

3. influential or authoritative

4. tending to produce violent physical or chemical effects

   a potent poison

5. (of a male) capable of having sexual intercourse

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potent ² British  

/ ˈpəʊtənt /

adjective

1. heraldry (of a cross) having flat bars across the ends of the arms

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Usage

What does potent mean? Potent means strong, powerful, and effective. It’s commonly applied to things that produce a powerful physical or chemical effect, especially medications and drugs. It can also be used in a more general way to describe the power or effectiveness of someone or something, such as a leader or a statement. The noun form of potent is potency. Example: The medicine is extremely potent, which means that it needs to be used very carefully according to the instructions.

Synonym Usage

See powerful.

Other Word Forms

• potentness
  noun
• potently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of potent¹

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse “to be able, have power”; see also potent

Origin of potent²

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English potente “crutch, staff, support,” from Middle French potente, potence “crutch, support,” ultimately from Medieval Latin potentia, Latin: power, potency; see also potent ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Potent means really strong, but not like a body builder. Use potent instead to describe things like intense smells, powerful magic potions, and very influential people. From the Latin potentum, meaning “powerful,” potent is just that: having tremendous strength or influence in either a moral or physical sense. A potent question gets to the heart of the matter and sparks serious discussion. Really stiff drinks can be potent, as can your breath after a garlicky meal. And as the composer Igor Stravinsky once asked, "What force is more potent than love?"

Example Sentences

“Stripper wells” like these contribute relatively little to the U.S. energy supply but emit vast amounts of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026

But it is also potent proof of the depth and complexity of the Mexican diaspora in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

Matthew Lehnert, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said high humidity means the heat will feel "much more potent".

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Nick Plumb, a director at the Power to Change think tank, says that the sight of open criminality on the High Street fuels feelings of "powerlessness" - a force that's proving potent in UK politics.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

“This looks like yerbabuena, only it’s darker and more potent by the smell of it.”

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• compelling
• dominant
• dynamic
• great
• impressive
• influential
• persuasive
• powerful
• robust
• strong
• useful
• vigorous