mighty

mighty — adjective

1. describes someone or something that is impressively large in size, physically ve

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes someone or something that is impressively large in size, physically very strong, or holding great influence and authority.

Example

The mighty Mississippi River carries water all the way from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

collocation: mighty + river / ocean / storm / empire

Lakan delivered a mighty swing that sent the baseball over the fence.

collocation: mighty + blow / punch / swing / kick

Common collocations
  • mighty river
  • mighty ocean
  • mighty warrior
  • mighty empire
  • mighty blow
  • mighty storm
  • mighty nation
Synonyms
  • powerful

    broader and more common; can describe machines, arguments, people

  • strong

    more everyday; focuses on physical strength or resilience

  • immense

    emphasises huge size rather than force or authority

  • formidable

    suggests inspiring fear or respect through size or strength

Antonyms
  • weak

    lacking physical strength or influence

  • feeble

    very weak, often suggesting frailty

Usage Note

Often used for natural features (rivers, mountains, storms), historical entities (empires, armies), or physical force (blows, throws). Less common in everyday conversation about people or objects.

Common Mistakes

The box is mighty small.' (when meaning 'very small').
The box is tiny.
The adjective 'mighty' describes great size or power, not smallness. For 'very' as an intensifier, use the adverb form of 'mighty' in informal speech.
Idioms

high and mighty

idiom

acting in a proud, self-important manner that suggests you believe you are better or more important than other people.

Ever since Reuben got his promotion, he has been acting all high and mighty with his former colleagues.

I find it hard to talk to that manager — she is far too high and mighty to listen to anyone below her rank.

the pen is mightier than the sword

idiom

a proverb expressing that the written word, ideas, and literature have a greater and more lasting impact on history and society than military force or violence.

The journalist truly believed that the pen is mightier than the sword, so she kept writing about the injustice despite the threats.

History shows us that the pen is mightier than the sword — books and new ideas outlast armies and weapons.

mighty — adverb

Word family

  • might
    nounB2
  • might
    modal verbA2
  • mightily
    adverbC1
  • almighty
    adjectiveC1
  • mightiness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe great size, strength, or force, but they differ in emphasis and register. 'Powerful' is the most versatile and common — it can describe a machine, a speech, a person, or an organisation. 'Strong' focuses more on physical resilience or the ability to withstand force; it is also the most everyday word of the group. 'Immense' is narrower — it emphasises huge size rather than force or authority ('an immense desert' but not 'an immense leader'). 'Formidable' adds the nuance of inspiring fear or respect because of one's size, strength, or skill ('a formidable opponent'). 'Mighty' sits somewhere in the middle — it carries a slightly literary or old-fashioned tone and is most often used for natural phenomena ('mighty river'), historical powers ('mighty empire'), or dramatic physical actions ('mighty blow'). In modern casual speech, 'powerful' or 'strong' are the safer choices.

powerful ↗strong ↗immense ↗formidable

Common collocations

Nouns

  • mighty river
  • mighty ocean
  • mighty empire
  • mighty warrior
  • mighty storm
  • mighty nation
  • mighty force
  • mighty strength

Adverbs

  • truly mighty
  • absolutely mighty

Phrases

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'mighty' comes from Old English 'mihtig,' meaning 'powerful, strong, able.' It is built on 'miht' (might, power) plus the suffix '-ig' (which later became '-y'). 'Miht' itself traces back to Proto-Germanic '*mahtīgaz' and further to the Proto-Indo-European root '*magʰ-' meaning 'to be able' — the same root that gave us 'may' and 'might.' The adverb use ('mighty good') developed in American English during the 1800s as a colloquial intensifier.