potent

potent — adjective

1. strong enough to have a major effect or a lot of influence

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

strong enough to have a major effect or a lot of influence

Example

The doctor gave Nina a potent painkiller after her knee operation.

collocation: potent painkiller

The cream is so potent that Leo uses only a tiny amount.

pattern: so potent that-clause

Common collocations
  • potent drug
  • potent cream
  • potent case
  • potent influence
  • potent force
Synonyms
  • powerful

    broader and more common, covering force, control, and effect

  • effective

    focuses on getting the wanted result

  • strong

    the everyday choice for force, intensity, or clear effect

  • influential

    fits people or groups that can shape decisions or opinions

Antonyms
  • weak

    not strong enough to make much difference

  • ineffective

    not producing the intended result

Grammar Patterns

potent drug

potent influence

be potent enough to + verb

so potent that-clause

Usage Note

Often used with nouns for medicine, influence, or arguments. When it describes a person or group, it usually points to influence or authority rather than physical strength.

Common Mistakes

My brother is potent and can lift 100 kilos.
My brother is strong and can lift 100 kilos.
potent usually describes effect or influence, not muscle power.

Word family

  • potency
    nounC1
  • potently
    adverbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Potent is close to powerful, but it usually highlights the effect something has rather than raw size or force. Strong is the everyday word and works for physical force, flavour, and intensity, while potent sounds more formal and is common with drugs, chemicals, arguments, and influence. Effective focuses on results: an effective plan works, but a potent plan sounds unusually forceful or able to change people or events. Influential fits people or groups that shape decisions, so it overlaps with potent mainly in social or political settings. A potent painkiller changes the body quickly; an influential editor changes public opinion.

potent ↗powerful ↗strong ↗effective ↗influential ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be potent enough to
  • so potent that

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Potent came into English through Old French from Latin potens, meaning having power or being able. It is related to the Latin verb posse, meaning to be able, which helps explain why potent still suggests strong effect, ability, or influence.