puissance
noun
puis·sance ˈpwi-sᵊn(t)s 
ˈpyü-ə-sən(t)s,
pyü-ˈi-sᵊn(t)s : strength, power
Synonyms
- energy
- firepower
- force
- horsepower
- might
- muscle
- potence
- potency
- power
- sinew
- strength
- vigor
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort
Recent Examples on the Web The reboot arrives at the peak of reggaeton’s pop puissance, and rightfully incorporates a lot more of the genre and its offshoots — Latin trap included. 
Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021 Which of you has the puissance to short-term deep-six me? Henry Alford, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2021 The doctrine’s puissance lies in the separation of powers. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020 Over the years, when French leaders have called for a Europe puissance (European power), this has often sounded suspiciously like code for French hegemonic ambitions. The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019 There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017
Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021 Which of you has the puissance to short-term deep-six me? Henry Alford, The New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2021 The doctrine’s puissance lies in the separation of powers. Matt Ford, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020 Over the years, when French leaders have called for a Europe puissance (European power), this has often sounded suspiciously like code for French hegemonic ambitions. The Economist, 7 Nov. 2019 There was a time when Jupiter was the king of the gods, and any man who doubted his puissance was ipso facto a barbarian and an ignoramus. John E. Mcintyre, baltimoresun.com, 29 Aug. 2017 Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French pussance, puissance, from pussant able, powerful, from poer to be able, be powerful — more at power
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
puissance
noun
as in power
the ability to exert effort for the accomplishment of a task the president pledged to put the full puissance of the nation into the war effort Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- power
- strength
- energy
- vigor
- potence
- potency
- muscle
- capacity
- capability
- horsepower
- force
- might
- firepower
- competence
- sinew
- aptitude
- competency
- effectiveness
- usefulness
- effectualness
- adequacy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- impotence
- weakness
- powerlessness
- impotency
- incapacity
- disability
- inaptitude
- inability
- incompetence
- incapability
- incompetency
- inefficacy
- ineffectuality
- uselessness
- ineffectualness
- ineffectiveness
- paralysis
- helplessness
- incapableness
- inefficaciousness