potent
1 Americanadjective
-
powerful; mighty.
a potent fighting force.
- Antonyms:
- weak
-
cogent; persuasive.
Several potent arguments were in his favor.
-
producing powerful physical or chemical effects.
a potent drug.
-
having or exercising great power or influence.
a potent factor in the economy.
- Synonyms:
- influential
- Antonyms:
- ineffectual
-
(of a male) capable of sexual intercourse.
noun
-
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.
-
a T -shaped form used in potent or counterpotent.
adjective
adjective
-
possessing great strength; powerful
-
(of arguments, etc) persuasive or forceful
-
influential or authoritative
-
tending to produce violent physical or chemical effects
a potent poison
-
(of a male) capable of having sexual intercourse
adjective
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
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?"
Vocabulary lists containing potent
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 2
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ACT Vocabulary List
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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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.
"There's no doubt the Taliban would like to be recognised at the UN but it's no longer as potent a bargaining chip as it was at the beginning," they assess.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
The streets that line the 110 Freeway between 42nd and 58th are a potent symbol of the challenges facing Bass and her program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026
Researchers have now identified a way to reproduce part of this potent chemistry in a laboratory setting, creating a possible path toward more sustainable treatments based on natural products.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 3, 2026
In the nearly 30 years since, state attorneys general have gone from being local sheriffs chasing local criminals to potent political forces on the state and federal scene.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Since the food production packages arising indigenously in New Guinea and in the eastern United States were considerably less potent, might the explanation there lie with the peoples of those areas?
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
