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
Relevance
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
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
But the loss of the UAE, one of its longest-serving and most influential members, is seen as a major blow to the cartel.
—
Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
His most influential work centered on genomics.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
He is now considered one of Germany’s most influential conceptual and action artists.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The Reiners were deeply influential in the film industry and their community in Los Angeles.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for influential
Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 30 Apr. 2026
His most influential work centered on genomics.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026
He is now considered one of Germany’s most influential conceptual and action artists.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
The Reiners were deeply influential in the film industry and their community in Los Angeles.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for influential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential
Adjective
-
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Denver landed an authoritative punch in the second and third quarters of Game 1 to open this playoff series against the Timberwolves.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In its system card for Claude Mythos, for instance, Anthropicresearchers noted that the powerful AI exhibited a strange fondness for the British cultural theorist Mark Fisher.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
-
To fix that, Fever removed it and replaced it with a motor from a powerful electric dirt bike.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Later, Mercury in Aries aligns with Chiron, opening the door for honest conversations that can repair something important.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
Sleep stages differ in important ways, Monika Schönauer, a sleep researcher at the University of Freiburg, who wasn’t involved in the study, told me.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
More than anything, Bernard’s significant production at the college level should better position him to make an impact with a QB like Rodgers, who expects precision and professionalism.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The planet no longer has active plate tectonics and only experienced more significant geological activity in its distant past.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Kaneland trailed 1-0 but Frey was dominant going into the sixth.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Seahawks leaned on a collective pass rush rather than one dominant star, finishing the season as one of the league’s more effective defensive fronts.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jessica Chmielewski, Colleen Gartlan and Ella Riordan led a strong defensive effort in front of Noone.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Set one clear boundary today and confirm expectations so your commitments stay strong and manageable.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
