INFLUENTIAL Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

influential

adjective

ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-shəl

Definition of influential

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

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

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 influential Kansas City Call Building The Kansas City Call, founded in 1919, became one of the city’s most influential newspapers for the Black community while reporting on community affairs and advocating for civil rights. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 About the Vox Media Podcast Network The Vox Media Podcast Network is one of the largest US podcast publishers and home to some of the most popular and influential shows. — Vox Communications, Vox, 20 Oct. 2026 Ahead of races in Austin in October and Las Vegas in November, Domenicali joined THE CEO MOMENT, our interview series featuring the world’s most influential business leaders. — Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 Wilson remains influential on national defense spending from his senior perch on the Armed Services Committee. — Molly Redden, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for influential

Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential

Adjective

Without an authoritative accounting, Eisenkot argues, the country cannot fully reckon with the catastrophe.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Our colleague Helen Branswell was a renowned infectious disease reporter who earned the respect and admiration of experts and public health officials with her authoritative, prescient reporting on the flu, polio, Ebola and the Covid-19 pandemic.

— Elaine Chen, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of authoritative

Adjective

Netanyahu, who has close ties with politically powerful ultra-Orthodox parties, has resisted attempts to end the exemptions.

— Josef Federman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
And that includes his warning that TV news has been corrupted by the agendas of the powerful, wealthy billionaires who now control a large portion of the media.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of powerful

Adjective

Helium plays an important role in wind, solar and nuclear energy production, space exploration, medical imaging and research.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Education and giving back are important values to the family as the project represents for them a broader impact within the natural diamond industry.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of important

Adjective

Summed up, this all provides the ship with significant firepower potential.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
In July, the west-to-east ride across the state passed through a significant stretch of the northeastern Iowa district Mitchell hopes to represent.

— Washington Post, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of significant

Adjective

The shift signals a turning point for the left, which has historically struggled to counter the far-right’s dominant online presence and savvy digital strategy.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
And, like its former parent, higher fuel costs will be a dominant theme throughout the report.

— Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of dominant

Adjective

Policymakers recognized that American companies needed a stronger reason to invest in innovation.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Meta Platforms, which is pushing its Muse AI agent, lost 7% after reporting stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell short.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of strong

Browse Nearby Words

influent

influential

influents

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“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of influential

adjective

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