potent
1Origin of potent
1synonym study for potent
OTHER WORDS FROM potent
po·tent·ly, adverbpo·tent·ness, nounWords nearby potent
Other definitions for potent (2 of 2)
MORE ABOUT POTENT
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.
Where does potent come from?
The first records of the word potent come from around the 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin potentia, meaning “power.” The word potential comes from the same root.
Potent is perhaps most commonly used in a medical context, in which it’s used to describe something that can have a strong effect on the body. A potent drug is one that will have a very strong effect. For example, some strains of cannabis are more potent than others. When a drug is said to become more or less potent under certain circumstances, this means it becomes stronger or weaker depending on those conditions. While the word is usually used in reference to a drug, it can also be used in reference to a disease. A disease can become more or less potent when it mutates, for example.
More generally, potent is used to describe someone or something strong or powerful. An argument is potent if it is forceful and persuasive. A leader can be described as potent if they wield power effectively. A pungent smell can be described as potent. A strong alcoholic drink might also be called potent, as in Wow, those were some potent potables, Alex!
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What are some other forms related to potent?
- potency (noun)
- potently (adverb)
- potentness (noun)
What are some synonyms for potent?
What are some words that share a root or word element with potent?
What are some words that often get used in discussing potent?
How is potent used in real life?
Potent can be used in many different contexts, but it’s most commonly used in relation to how powerful a drug is.
US health officials have issued a warning about marijuana’s effects on developing brains. They say a change in attitudes toward cannabis has created a false sense of security about the increasingly potent drug.
MORE on marijuana: https://t.co/SuxCyD048Ahttps://t.co/kCjeAXoNws
— AP West Region (@APWestRegion) August 29, 2019
A top doctor in Italy was slammed by the @WHO emergencies chief for suggesting the novel coronavirus may be becoming less potent; researchers cautioned that clinical results from Italy likely do not reflect any actual change in the virus. https://t.co/D4atQd4qvr
— Global Health NOW (@ghn_news) June 2, 2020
"The Most Potent Weapon in the Hands of the Oppressor is the Mind of the Oppressed" – Steve Biko
I am reminded of the truth of this statement whenever I encounter Kenyans willing to make all sorts of mental contortions to justify privileges a few enjoy at the expense of the many.— gathara (@gathara) June 7, 2019
Try using potent!
Is potent used correctly in the following sentence?
The medication will become less potent if kept in the sunlight.