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View synonyms for potent

potent

1

[ poht-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.


potent

2

[ poht-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.

adjective

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

    a cross potent.

potent

1

/ ˈpəʊtənt /

adjective

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


potent

2

/ 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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Derived Forms

  • ˈpotentness, noun
  • ˈpotently, adverb

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Other Words From

  • po·tent·ly adverb
  • po·tent·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of potent1

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Latin potent- (stem of potēns ), present participle of posse “to be able, have power”; 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; potent 1( def )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of potent1

C17: from obsolete potent a crutch, from Latin potentia power

Origin of potent2

C15: from Latin potēns able, from posse to be able

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.

I said that mixture of glamour and vulnerability is potent, especially if you can sense the vulnerability.

It was so potent, given all the ways the world is breaking many people, his people, down.

That all-American iconography has always been so potent in the Superman myth.

The potent shared interest in defeating ISIS is one such avenue.

The voice is the most potent influence of expression, the winged messenger between soul and soul.

Old feuds were settled in the old way and six inches of steel were more potent than the longest Order in Council.

The upraised hand, the potent silence, the solemn gaze of a hundred eyes was too much for the old man to bear.

A more potent and public method of ridicule would be difficult to devise.

After all she, Hilda, possessed some mysterious characteristic more potent than the elegance and the goodness of Janet Orgreave.

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potencypotentate