puissant

powerful

adjective pwee-SAHN Less Common

Also means

mighty

Usage Note

Puissant (feminine puissante) describes both physical strength and abstract power — a powerful engine or a powerful nation. It is a more formal or emphatic word than fort; in everyday speech fort is preferred. The noun puissance ('power') shares the same root.

Examples

"Ce moteur est très puissant."

Natural Translation

This engine is very powerful.

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