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Influential

adj. capable, thoughtful professional

What it means

Able to shape what people decide, believe, or do.

Reach for it when describing a person, work, or factor with demonstrated effect on others

Her influential report changed how three cities designed night buses.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom. Tap a word to see when it fits.
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

  • everyday

    powerful

    Fits when the capacity to affect outcomes is unusually strong

    Careful Powerful can suggest control or force, while influential may work indirectly.

  • warm

    respected

    Fits when others give weight to the person's views because trust was earned

    Careful Respect may never translate into actual influence.

  • warm

    trailblazing

    Fits when new work opens a path that others follow

    Careful A pioneer can be original without becoming widely influential.

  • professional

    impactful

    Fits when modern workplace language needs to stress a strong practical effect

    Careful It is broad, sometimes disliked jargon and does not specify influence on people.

  • professional

    persuasive

    Fits when skill at changing minds through argument is the key strength

    Careful Persuasive describes an attempt or ability, not lasting real-world influence.

  • formal

    authoritative

    Fits when expertise makes the source especially credible

    Careful Authority can come from office or knowledge without changing an audience.

  • formal

    prominent

    Fits when visibility or status gives someone a leading public position

    Careful Prominence attracts attention but does not prove that decisions changed.

  • literary

    seminal

    Fits when a work becomes the origin of important later developments

    Careful Reserve seminal for foundational influence, not current popularity or personal charisma.

Opposites 3

  • ineffectual
  • powerless
  • uninfluential

Common phrases 3

  • influential leader

    The influential leader used her platform to elevate local specialists.

  • highly influential

    The small study became highly influential after several teams reproduced its result.

  • influential role

    Community nurses played an influential role in shaping the final policy.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated