influential

adjective

ˌin-(ˌ)flü-ˈen(t)-shəl How to pronounce influential (audio)
Definition of influentialnext
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

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2
as in powerful
having great power or influence a particularly influential politician got the team a new ballpark

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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 With rigorous reporting and more than 150 interviews with those working for the US’ most influential AI companies, technology journalist Roose covers Silicon Valley’s breakneck race to build artificial general intelligence. — Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Several of France’s influential unions joined Tuesday’s rallies, as crowds gathered in Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and other cities. — Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026 On Monday, Time hosted the inaugural Time100 Impact dinner, an extension of the magazine’s long-standing recognition of influential people across industries, to celebrate leaders in the art world. — Brianna J. Heath, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026 The two famously starred in the influential NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air for six seasons from 1990 to 1996. — Angel Diaz, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for influential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for influential
  1. authoritative
  2. powerful
  3. important
  4. significant
  5. dominant
  6. strong
Adjective
  • With the press world’s help, Omar Jamal was anointed as the authoritative voice on all political issues concerning Minnesota’s Somali community and the Somali population at large in America.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The underlying transactions have to be organized and labeled so the system can tell what’s authoritative and what’s just a reference point.
    — Salvatore Lombardo, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritative
Adjective
  • Hastert was aware of the personal pitfalls of holding the powerful position.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • With the Heat’s offense often spacing all five players around the three-point line, Antetokounmpo will have plenty of room to operate as one of the most powerful drivers in the NBA.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of powerful
Adjective
  • While a push east for Marib would get the Houthis the most resources, a southern push appears to be more strategically important for the time being.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026
  • For decades, the European Union has led the world in implementing policies designed to cut emissions, creating the world’s most important price on carbon and crafting the rules of the road for a wide range of regulatory efforts.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of important
Adjective
  • Its compact design puts significant emphasis on accurate pointing without adding substantial mass.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the hype, China’s AI sector faces some significant constraints on its growth.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • One is reminded of Toni Morrison, whose refusal to pander to the dominant gaze — whose insistence on writing about Black characters without regard for whoever else might be reading — unlocked its own kind of universality.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • However, the iMac's M4 chip performed better in both single-core contests (representative of the most basic tasks) and Adobe Photoshop, where Macs have been dominant for years.
    — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of dominant
Adjective
  • Mercury in Scorpio squares Mars in Leo, making opinions stronger, reactions quicker, and certain conversations easier to escalate than intended.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Fire officials had also failed to take advantage of satellite imagery after strong winds grounded their typical eyes in the sky, aircraft.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of strong

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Cite this Entry

“Influential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/influential. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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