puissant

American  

[pyoo-uh-suhnt, pyoo-is-uhnt, pwis-uhnt] / ˈpyu ə sənt, pyuˈɪs ənt, ˈpwɪs ənt /

adjective

Literary.

1. powerful; mighty; potent.

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puissant British  

/ ˈpjuːɪsənt /

adjective

1. archaic powerful

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Other Word Forms

• overpuissant adjective
• overpuissantly adverb
• puissantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of puissant

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *possent- (stem of *possēns ), for Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse to be able, have power; potent ¹, -ant

Explanation

Puissant means powerful and in possession of authority, and is often used to describe the political power of someone, like a prince or president. Said the English poet, historian, and arguably puissant scholar John Milton, “Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks.” Synonyms for this somewhat rarely used adjective include forcible, mighty, strong, steady, unyielding, and vigorous.

Example Sentences

Kai A. Ealy offers a puissant portrayal of Oedipus’ traitorous son Polynecies and Jason Huysman, donning a white suit and cruelly manipulative demeanor, makes a vivid impression as Creon.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2023

The play, he writes, is “smart, compact and stirring” and “seems destined to have a life as a puissant postscript to Ibsen’s masterwork.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2017

The Royal Nappy , on the other hand, is focused on the business end of the puissant infant, as you might expect from the chap who brought you The Queen's Knickers and Cinderella's Bum.

From The Guardian • Jul. 19, 2013

Red Pope'' of the Roman Catholic Church is that most puissant Cardinal in charge of its vast foreign missions�the prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of Faith.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Sweet Petyr, surely you do not mean to suggest that these puissant lords and noble knights could be bought like so many chickens in the market."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin