POWER Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'power' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of power are authority , command , control , dominion , jurisdiction , and sway . While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence. // the power to mold public opinion

Q: When can 'authority' be used instead of 'power'?

Although the words authority and power have much in common, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits. // granted the authority to manage her estate

Q: When might 'command' be a better fit than 'power'?

While in some cases nearly identical to power , command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience. // the army officer in command

Q: When would 'control' be a good substitute for 'power'?

The meanings of control and power largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain. // you are responsible for the students under your control

Q: In what contexts can 'dominion' take the place of 'power'?

The words dominion and power are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority. // given dominion over all the animals

Q: When could 'jurisdiction' be used to replace 'power'?

The synonyms jurisdiction and power are sometimes interchangeable, but jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits. // the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Q: Where would 'sway' be a reasonable alternative to 'power'?

In some situations, the words sway and power are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence. // the empire extended its sway over the region

power 1 of 2

noun

ˈpau̇(-ə)r

Definition of power

as in control

the right or means to command or control others the emir has nearly complete power over the emirate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in energy

the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task the corporation has the power to accomplish almost anything you'll need to build a bit more power in order to be a star pitcher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in faculty

a natural ability of the mind or body dogs have a very highly developed power of smell

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in fuel

something with a usable capacity for doing work nuclear power

Synonyms & Similar Words

power

2 of 2

verb

as in to fuel

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun power contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of power are authority, command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When can authority be used instead of power?

Although the words authority and power have much in common, authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When might command be a better fit than power?

While in some cases nearly identical to power, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for power?

The meanings of control and power largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

In what contexts can dominion take the place of power?

The words dominion and power are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When could jurisdiction be used to replace power?

The synonyms jurisdiction and power are sometimes interchangeable, but jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

Where would sway be a reasonable alternative to power?

In some situations, the words sway and power are roughly equivalent. However, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of power

Noun

Europe is now home to some of the most promising companies building clean power, while remaining an expensive place to buy it. — Sophie Dembinski, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Political power, economic opportunity, cultural prestige, and elite education remain extraordinarily concentrated in the capital. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Verb

Farmers also rely on diesel to power most of their equipment, which could further push up food prices. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 The buildout of artificial intelligence is driving investment in advanced semiconductors, servers and the sprawling data centers needed to power the technology. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for power

Recent Examples of Synonyms for power

Noun

At the end of September, leaders of several of the biggest AI companies went to the White House and signed an accord committing to internal risk controls, independent audits and board-level oversight of safety.

— Giorgos Tsetis, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
That includes colorblock styling, chunky knobs and physical controls, and simple shapes that make each device memorable and distinctive.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Noun

But fear not, Lisa will be channeling that energy into her art.

— Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
It was deemed Biden’s signature climate law, providing hundreds of billions of dollars for tax credits and programs to bolster the clean energy sector (much of that funding was repealed by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

— Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of energy

Noun

The cases are then reviewed by a panel of faculty and staff, which can impose punishments ranging from verbal warnings to suspension or expulsion.

— Casey Tolan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
According to Packman, approximately 150 faculty members have signaled their support for the resolution, and the measure was co-sponsored by a dozen members of the faculty senate.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of faculty

Noun

That pulse crushes the fuel, driving its atoms to unite and release their own huge amount of energy, whose nature and effects scientists can study.

— Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The investment was intended to support reactor design, licensing, and development of a nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of fuel

Verb

Torrential rain has pushed all three waterways higher for days, spilling them over their banks in northeastern Argentina, southern Paraguay and western Uruguay.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Audit reports, supplier codes of conduct and corporate sustainability pledges have made up the bulk of brands’ efforts to push a more ecological and socially aware agenda, but times have changed.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of push

Noun

The twentieth century also saw Canada transition from British dominion to sovereign North American partner and ally.

— Robert B. Zoellick, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2026
Faced with the dominion of the identical copy, some modern artists chose to celebrate it; others took a more critical, even antagonistic stance.

— Mario Carpo, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of dominion

Noun

The event’s jaw-dropping radiance stunned astronomers, who think that a GRB of this strength strikes Earth only once every 10,000 years.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Most leadership culture pushes people to catalog strengths, build on advantages, project confidence.

— Flavio Maluf, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of strength

Noun

The Pentagon has bet its fighter jet future on Boeing, raising questions about competition, cost, and capability.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of capability

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powerboat

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“Power.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/power. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of power

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verb

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Synonyms of power

noun

verb

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