— powerfully , adv. — powerfulness , n.
/pow"euhr feuhl/ , adj.
1. having or exerting great power or force.
2. physically strong, as a person: a large, powerful athlete.
3. producing great physical effects, as a machine or a blow.
4. potent; efficacious: a powerful drug.
5. having great effectiveness, as a speech, speaker, description, reason, etc.
6. having great power, authority, or influence; mighty: a powerful nation.
7. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. great in number or amount: a powerful lot of money.
[ 1350-1400; ME powarfull. See POWER, -FUL ]
Syn. 1. forceful, strong. POWERFUL, MIGHTY, POTENT suggest great force or strength. POWERFUL suggests capability of exerting great force or overcoming strong resistance: a powerful machine like a bulldozer. MIGHTY, now chiefly rhetorical, implies uncommon or overwhelming strength of power: a mighty army. POTENT implies great natural or inherent power: a potent influence. 5. influential, convincing, forcible, cogent, effective.
Ant. 1. weak.