powerful

powerful — 形容詞

1. able to make people obey and to shape important events or decisions

1.形容詞B1
釋義

有權勢

能左右他人與局勢

able to make people obey and to shape important events or decisions

例句

The minister is powerful enough to change the budget in one meeting.

那位部長有權勢到能在一次會議中改掉預算。

powerful enough to + verb

After the merger, the bank became one of the country's most powerful companies.

併購後，那家銀行成了國內最有權勢的公司之一。

one of the most powerful + plural noun

同義詞
  • influential

    stresses effect on opinions or decisions, not always formal authority

  • dominant

    sounds stronger and suggests staying above rivals

  • commanding

    often suggests natural authority and respect

  • mighty

    more dramatic or literary than everyday powerful

反義詞
  • powerless

    having little or no control over events

  • weak

    broader and less political; it can describe limited influence

  • minor

    suggests a small role or little importance

文法句型

be powerful enough to + verb

be powerful in politics

become powerful

one of the most powerful + plural noun

用法筆記

Usually about people, governments, companies, or families that can direct others or influence major results. Distinguish from adjective/2, which is about physical force or machine strength.

常見錯誤

❌The laptop is powerful in the company.
✅The CEO is powerful in the company.
💡adjective/1 is about control or influence, not machine performance.

2. able to push, hit, pull, or move with great force or strength

2.形容詞B1
釋義

強勁的

力氣或推力很大

able to push, hit, pull, or move with great force or strength

例句

The storm's powerful waves broke the old wooden pier by dawn.

暴風雨中強勁的海浪在天亮前打斷了舊木碼頭。

powerful + natural force

This small truck has a powerful engine for mountain roads.

這輛小卡車有強勁的引擎，適合山路。

collocation: powerful engine

同義詞
  • strong

    the broad everyday word for physical strength or force

  • forceful

    often describes energetic action, movement, or impact

  • muscular

    used mainly for a person's body rather than machines

  • high-powered

    especially common for engines, tools, and equipment

反義詞
  • weak

    lacking physical strength or force

  • feeble

    weaker and often suggests very little force

  • low-powered

    used especially for equipment or engines

文法句型

a powerful engine

a powerful kick

be powerful enough to + verb

a powerful machine

用法筆記

Common with engines, waves, kicks, machines, and sometimes strong people or animals. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is about a strong effect on feelings, the body, or a situation.

常見錯誤

❌My grandmother is powerful for her age.
✅My grandmother is strong for her age.
💡For ordinary body strength, strong is usually more natural than powerful.

3. causing a strong change in thoughts, feelings, the body, or a result

3.形容詞B2
釋義

影響大

能強烈影響感受或結果

causing a strong change in thoughts, feelings, the body, or a result

例句

The final speech was so powerful that the whole hall fell silent.

那場最後的演講影響很大，整個大廳都安靜下來。

so powerful that + result

The photo had a powerful effect on parents after the school fire.

那張照片在學校失火後對家長的影響很大。

powerful effect on + person

同義詞
  • effective

    focuses on getting the wanted result, not on emotional force

  • moving

    used mainly for a strong emotional effect

  • intense

    broader and can describe strong feelings, experiences, or pressure

  • potent

    more formal and often used for drugs, symbols, or influences

反義詞
  • weak

    having little effect or influence

  • mild

    often used for medicine, feelings, or reactions that are not strong

  • ineffective

    fails to produce the intended result

文法句型

have a powerful effect on someone

be powerful enough to + verb

so powerful that + clause

remain powerful

用法筆記

Common with effect, message, speech, image, film, and medicine. Distinguish from adjective/2, which focuses on force or strength rather than emotional, mental, or medical impact.

常見錯誤

❌The hammer had a powerful effect on the nail.
✅The speech had a powerful effect on the crowd.
💡adjective/3 is mainly for influence or results, not direct physical force.

4. able to make a tiny or distant thing appear much larger

4.形容詞
釋義

高倍率

能把遠物或小物放大

able to make a tiny or distant thing appear much larger

例句

The lab bought a powerful microscope for studying cells and dust.

實驗室買了一台高倍率顯微鏡來研究細胞和灰塵。

collocation: powerful microscope

With powerful binoculars, Nora could see boats near the far island.

靠著高倍率雙筒望遠鏡，Nora 看得到遠處島旁的船。

同義詞
  • high-powered

    common for microscopes, lenses, lasers, and other equipment

  • strong

    the usual everyday word for glasses or lenses

反義詞
  • weak

    used for a lens or signal with little strength

  • low-powered

    used for equipment that enlarges less

文法句型

a powerful microscope

a powerful telescope

be powerful enough to + verb

a powerful zoom

用法筆記

Common with microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, lenses, and camera zooms. Distinguish from adjective/2, which is about force, not about making an image look larger.

常見錯誤

❌I need powerful glasses to read the bus number.
✅I need strong glasses to read the bus number.
💡For ordinary glasses, strong is more usual; powerful is common for viewing equipment.