1
as in authoritative
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in powerful
having great power or influence
a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of influential
Maná Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic The Groundswell: Maná, arguably the most influential and popular Latin American band of all time, constantly tour at an arena level and will embark on a lengthy trek throughout America in 2025.
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Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Put it all together — the two years as an executive and another two as a consultant — and Paratici has been one of the most influential off-field figures in Spurs’ recent history.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Anuradha Hebbar, president of CEO Action for Inclusion & Diversity, an arm of the influential Society for Human Resource Management, said the EEOC has especially made clear that companies should avoid fellowships, internships and other programs that are open only to women or certain racial groups.
—Alexandra Olson and Claire Savage, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Still, he is considered to be one of the most influential pro wrestlers of his generation.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influential
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025
Put it all together — the two years as an executive and another two as a consultant — and Paratici has been one of the most influential off-field figures in Spurs’ recent history.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Anuradha Hebbar, president of CEO Action for Inclusion & Diversity, an arm of the influential Society for Human Resource Management, said the EEOC has especially made clear that companies should avoid fellowships, internships and other programs that are open only to women or certain racial groups.
—Alexandra Olson and Claire Savage, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Still, he is considered to be one of the most influential pro wrestlers of his generation.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for influential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential
Adjective
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Leadership is often associated with grand speeches, authoritative presence and a commanding voice.—
Mohammad Bahareth,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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There are lots of ways to be an authoritative parent, which can leave moms and dads (but mostly moms) feeling rudderless.—
Gail Cornwall,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Impact of Native CDFIs: A Story of Resilience and Homeownership A powerful example of this impact comes from Hawai‘i Community Lending (HCL), which helped the Boyd family achieve homeownership despite facing financial hardship.—
Oweesta,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration has taken steps and made claims that clash with legal opinions issued by a traditionally powerful agency that is part of the Justice Department, the Office of Legal Counsel.—
Charlie Savage,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Sri Lanka worried that its economic recovery would be derailed as its clothing industry faced new tariffs from its most important export market.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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This Milan Design Week was an important one for Louis Vuitton.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The nonpartisan Tax Foundation said the average American household will pay $2,100 a year more for goods because of the significant universal and reciprocal tariffs Trump announced Wednesday.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
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Navigating a Complex Legal Landscape In recent months, the U.S. regulatory landscape has seen significant shifts concerning DEI initiatives.—
Jason Wingard,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Graduate guard Azzi Fudd, who scored just eight points in UConn’s Elite Eight win against USC, was equally dominant.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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Alencar secured four of five takedown attempts and maintained 12:38 of control time en route to the dominant win.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.—
Elliot Hughes,
Journal Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2023
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This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.—
National Geographic,
National Geographic,
13 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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