Cool MateMighty vs Powerful
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Mighty
Top 2,000 (common)
Powerful
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adjective
Most common: Powerful
| Mighty | Powerful | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈmaɪti//🇺🇸 //ˈmaɪti// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpaʊəfl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpaʊərfl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very strong or powerful. | Very strong or effective. |
| Example | The mighty river carved its way through the mountains. | The new engine is incredibly powerful and can reach high speeds in seconds. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | mighty strength, mighty power, mighty performance, mighty force, mighty effort | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | weak, powerless, feeble, insignificant | weak, ineffective, powerless |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'mighty' vs 'mighty much', Overused in contexts that require a more neutral tone, Mispronounced as 'mite-y' instead of 'my-tee' | Using 'powerful' incorrectly with uncountable nouns, e.g., 'powerful information' instead of 'valuable information'., Confusing it with 'power', which is a noun., Overusing 'powerful' in casual contexts instead of simpler terms. |
| Usage notes | Use 'mighty' to describe someone or something with great strength or power. It’s often used in both poetic and everyday language. It's not typically used in very formal contexts. | Use 'powerful' for both physical strength and the effectiveness of ideas, emotions, or objects. Avoid in overly casual contexts where simpler words like 'strong' may fit better. |
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Frequently asked questions: Mighty vs Powerful
What's the difference between Mighty and Powerful?
Mighty: Very strong or powerful. Powerful: Very strong or effective.
Which is more common: Mighty and Powerful?
Powerful is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Mighty: The mighty river carved its way through the mountains. Powerful: The new engine is incredibly powerful and can reach high speeds in seconds.
Can I use Mighty and Powerful interchangeably?
Not always. Mighty and Powerful are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.