potency
3
6.6
- noun
- /ˈpoʊtənsi/
- Formal
:
poder
- Plays and performances must have social immediacy, political potency, and personal relevance.
- political potency
Examples
-
Democrats draw confidence in the potency of their attack from their victory last year.
Blog text (13) -
"And of course, none of us are in favor of racism, which allows their rhetoric a certain potency.
Academic text (2016) -
But turn those arguments around, and they lose their potency, becoming somewhat ridiculous.
Blog text (10) -
Key team dynamics involve developing a shared sense of potency and more positive attitudes toward collaboration.
Academic text (2005) -
The bribes used to keep the oligarchs in power are losing their potency with every new printing.
Blog text (24) -
If so, Anglican moral justification of the war lost potency.
Academic text (2002) -
The Union preceded the states—preceded them theoretically and as a matter of executive potency and sovereignty.
Academic text (2001) -
The CEO's decision demonstrated her potency to influence company policy effectively.
-
The mayor's potency in local politics has helped improve community engagement.
-
The senator's potency in legislative matters was evident when key bills were passed under her leadership.
Synonyms
∞
3.4
Ability to control people or events
731
3.5
Power to give orders and make people obey
87
5.6
Permission that a person in charge gives to do something
81
5.1
Power and control over other people or groups
The legal right to act or control others
Power to control people or places
Great power or influence that lets someone control others
Antonyms
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Potency comes from the old Latin word potentia meaning 'power', and from potens meaning 'powerful', from an earlier idea of 'to be able'. It shares the same root as potent and potential, so potency in authority means the real 'power' someone has to give orders.