Influential — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-shəl/ in·flu·en·tial

Meaning & Definition of Influential

Influential (adjective)

  1. exerting or possessing influence

Influential (noun)

  1. one who has great influence

Influential (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having power over the minds or behavior of others

    "in light of the effect that they have had, religious leaders such as Jesus and Muḥammad must be regarded as among the most influential people ever"

    similar: authoritative, forceful, weighty
    related: cogent, controlling, dominating, masterful, dominant, predominant, regnant, sovereign, supreme, eminent, important, momentous
    near: helpless, impotent, powerless, weak, incapable, unable

  2. having great power or influence

    "a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark"

    similar: heavy, heavy-duty, important, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, significant, strong
    related: high-level, senior, top, able, capable, competent, effective, efficient, authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical, celebrated, distinguished, dominant, eminent, famed, famous, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, notorious, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, prominent, renowned, dynamic, energetic, forceful, high-powered, robust, vigorous
    opposite: helpless, impotent, insignificant, little, powerless, unimportant, weak
    near: feeble, flimsy, frail, infirm, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown, incapable, incompetent, ineffective, inept, inexpert, unfit, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Influential

The most common words with a similar meaning to Influential:

authoritative, forceful, weighty, heavy, heavy-duty, important, mighty, potent, powerful, puissant, significant, strong

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Influential

Words with the opposite meaning of Influential:

helpless, impotent, insignificant, little, powerless, unimportant, weak

Related Words for Influential

cogent, controlling, dominating, masterful, dominant, predominant, regnant, sovereign, supreme, eminent, momentous, high-level, senior, top, able, capable, competent, effective, efficient, authoritarian, autocratic, despotic, dictatorial, magisterial, tyrannical, celebrated, distinguished, famed, famous, great

Near Antonyms of Influential

incapable, unable, feeble, flimsy, frail, infirm, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown, incompetent, ineffective, inept, inexpert, unfit, unqualified, unskilled, unskillful

Word Forms of Influential

Derived words: influentially (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Influential

First known use: 1570

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Influential

Frequently Asked Questions about Influential

What does "Influential" mean?

"Influential" means exerting or possessing influence. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: exerting or possessing influence. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Influential"?

Other words for "Influential" include authoritative, forceful, weighty, heavy, heavy-duty, important, mighty and potent. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Influential" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Influential"?

There are 57 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Influential". Common alternatives include authoritative, forceful, weighty, heavy, heavy-duty, important, mighty, potent, powerful and puissant.

What is the opposite of "Influential"?

Antonyms of "Influential" include helpless, impotent, insignificant, little, powerless, unimportant and weak. Near antonyms include incapable, unable, feeble and flimsy.

How do you use "Influential" in a sentence?

Examples of "Influential" in a sentence: "in light of the effect that they have had, religious leaders such as Jesus and Muḥammad must be regarded as among the most influential people ever"; "a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark".

Is "Influential" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Influential" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Influential" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Influential" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Influential"?

"Influential" is pronounced /ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-shəl/ and divided into syllables as in·flu·en·tial.