1
as in qi
a spiritual force that is held to emanate from or give animation to living beings many Eastern cultures believe in the significance of life energy in the healing process

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in fuel
something with a usable capacity for doing work some of the power needs of the house are provided by solar energy

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun energy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of energy are force, might, power, and strength. While all these words mean "the ability to exert effort," energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

When is it sensible to use force instead of energy?

While in some cases nearly identical to energy, force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

In what contexts can might take the place of energy?

While the synonyms might and energy are close in meaning, might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

When would power be a good substitute for energy?

In some situations, the words power and energy are roughly equivalent. However, power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

When is strength a more appropriate choice than energy?

The synonyms strength and energy are sometimes interchangeable, but strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.

use weight training to build your strength

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of energy Sunrun shares have plunged nearly 26% this year and more than 52% over the past year, as traders ditch clean energy names under the Trump administration. Pia Singh, CNBC, 30 May 2025 High-level autonomy is responsible for scheduling and prioritizing tasks within a limited energy budget. ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025 All this Cancer energy will be just one note in a larger harmony, as Jupiter enters Cancer next week and stays until July 2026. Colin Bedell, Them., 30 May 2025 However neither a wether delay or a temporary evacuation could dampen the crowd's sky-high energy throughout the night. Caché McClay, USA Today, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for energy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for energy
Noun
  • It is believed that a women’s qi, or life force, is depleted while giving birth.
    Clarissa Wei, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2024
  • Those with strong qi, who can learn to channel it, make for fierce, skilled warriors.
    Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2020
Noun
  • That offensive stance has stood firm even as the stock market continues to be whipsawed by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies that change on a dime, while worries deepen about the vigor of the economy.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 30 May 2025
  • Micro-breaks, even as short as a few minutes, significantly boost vigor and reduce fatigue, though longer breaks have a greater positive impact on performance.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • In southern Gaza, the 140,000 litres of fuel needed weekly to maintain water supply operations was not received last week, leading to warnings from local officials of an imminent full-scale shutdown, the UN reported on May 21.
    Sarah-Grace Mankarious, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was notified for a possible fuel leak.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
Noun
  • The power of trauma lies in its ability to diminish our sense of current safety and future stability.
    Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • If the Heat doesn’t extend that qualifying offer, Mitchell would become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Miami would lose the power to always have an opportunity match outside offers.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Then, Mercury and Jupiter both enter your sign (on June 8th and June 9th), bringing the spotlight straight to your aura.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 29 May 2025
  • Like Taurus, Aidan is a romantic at heart and has a tenderness in his aura.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The altitude of these collisions, the type of gas molecules and the intensity of the energy determine the aurora’s color, which can include anything from green to pink to blue.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • If approved, Missourians would have higher gas bills by Oct. 24, 2025.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • On the services side, leisure and hospitality (38,000) and financial activities (20,000) provided some signs of strength.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 4 June 2025
  • Rather than demanding Arab and Muslim partners choose sides, Trump understands that a prosperous Gulf can engage from strength.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, semafor.com, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • Let this lunation guide you toward experiences that ignite your spirit!
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 June 2025
  • For your weekend Going out Sunday Funday: Australian actor Felix Mallard loves to surf and chase breakfast burritos on his perfect Sunday Funday in L.A. Celebrate Pride: With Pride Month officially beginning today, here are 11 fantastic ways to celebrate your creative L.A. spirit.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Energy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/energy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on energy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!