mighty
gb/mˈaɪti/ us/mˈaɪti/
B1
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
very strong, powerful, or large
Very strong, powerful, or large in a way that is impressive.
Usage pattern:
a mighty [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "mighty" for everyday small strengths (e.g., "a mighty pencil"). It is usually used for things that are very strong, powerful, or impressive, not for ordinary objects.
Synonyms
powerful (More common in everyday speech; slightly less dramatic than "mighty".)
|
strong (Broader and less vivid; does not always suggest impressiveness.)
|
formidable (Emphasizes that something is frightening or difficult to deal with.)
|
imposing (Focuses on impressive appearance rather than actual power or strength.)
Antonyms
weak (Lacking physical or emotional strength or power.)
|
feeble (Very weak, often suggesting fragility or ineffectiveness.)
Collocations
mighty army
|mighty river
|mighty blow
|mighty storm
|mighty oak
|mighty task
Themes
description
|power
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A mighty wind tore the roofs from several houses along the coast.
- The tiny village stood in the shadow of a mighty mountain range.
- With one mighty push, they managed to free the car from the mud.
- The company grew from a small start-up into a mighty global brand.
- Legends tell of a mighty warrior who could defeat entire armies alone.
Learner examples
- A mighty wave hit the boat and shook it hard.
- We walked beside a mighty river that moved very fast.
- The boxer gave a mighty punch and won the fight.
- They built a mighty wall around the old city.
- The small team faced a mighty problem but did not give up.
adverb
informal
B2
quantity
2
very; extremely (informal)
Very; used to make an adjective or another adverb stronger in informal speech.
Usage pattern:
mighty [adjective/adverb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use adverb "mighty" in formal writing, where "very" or "extremely" is better. It is also sometimes confused with "mightily", which is more formal and less common. "Mighty" as an adverb usually comes before an adjective or another adverb, not before a noun (say "a mighty big dog", not *"a mighty dog" for this adverb sense).
Synonyms
very (Neutral and more common; does not sound informal or regional.)
|
extremely (Stronger than "very" and more formal; not as colloquial as "mighty".)
|
awfully (Informal intensifier similar in tone, but can sound old-fashioned in some contexts.)
Antonyms
slightly (Indicates a small degree, the opposite of a strong intensifier.)
|
barely (Emphasizes that something is almost not true, opposite of strong emphasis.)
Collocations
mighty big
|mighty fine
|mighty proud
|mighty hard
|mighty fast
|mighty strange
Themes
degree
|informal_speech
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That was a mighty good meal for such a small café.
- You’re mighty quiet tonight; is something wrong?
- It gets mighty cold out here once the sun goes down.
- She was mighty proud of her son’s graduation.
- He walked mighty fast for someone his age.
Learner examples
- This soup is mighty hot, so be careful.
- I am mighty happy to see you today.
- The test was mighty hard for the new students.
- He ran mighty fast to catch the bus.
- They were mighty tired after the long trip.
Noun
literary
C1
entity
3
people who are very powerful
People who have a lot of power or control, especially in politics, business, or society.
Usage pattern:
the mighty
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "the mighty" is used mainly in literary or dramatic style and usually needs the article "the" before it. Saying just *"mighty" as a noun without "the" is normally incorrect.
Synonyms
the powerful (Neutral description focusing on power; slightly more common in modern usage.)
|
the elite (Emphasizes high social or economic status, not just power.)
Antonyms
the powerless (People with little or no control or influence over events.)
|
the weak (Focuses on lack of strength or power compared with "the mighty".)
Collocations
the rich and the mighty
|the great and the mighty
|challenge the mighty
|fear the mighty
Themes
society
|politics
|relationships
Examples
- The new law was seen as a rare victory for ordinary citizens against the mighty.
- Journalists must be free to question the mighty without fear of punishment.
- Artists often use humor to mock the mighty and comfort the powerless.
- History is usually written from the view of the mighty, not the poor.
- She never hesitated to speak truth to the mighty, even at great personal risk.
Learner examples
- Many people feel that the mighty do not listen to them.
- Some movies show the mighty as cold and selfish.
- The writer wanted to give a voice to the weak, not to the mighty.
- He thinks the mighty should pay more taxes.
- The story is about a child who stands up to the mighty.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mighty
IPA
GB/mˈaɪti/
US/mˈaɪti/
Syllables & stress
mighty (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (mighty)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: mighty
- Comparative: mightier
- Superlative: mightiest
Word family
Expressions
the great and the mighty
1/ðə ɡɹˈeɪt ˈænd ðə mˈaɪti/
fixed phrase
literary
famous and powerful people
People who are both very important and very powerful, such as top leaders, stars, or rich business people.
Examples
- The charity dinner was packed with the great and the mighty of the fashion world.
- Ordinary citizens often feel that decisions are made only by the great and the mighty.
- The reporter’s job was to follow the great and the mighty and report on their lives.
high and mighty
1/hˈaɪ ˈænd mˈaɪti/
idiom
informal
acting overly important and proud
Acting as if you are better than other people.
Examples
- Don't get all high and mighty just because you won one game.
- Ever since her promotion, she’s been acting all high and mighty with her old friends.
- She acts all high and mighty at work.
- Don’t get high and mighty with me just because you were right this time.
- The article criticizes politicians who grow high and mighty once they win office.