potent

Compared meaning: having great strength or force (adjective).

比较义项：力量强大、效力强（形容词）。

• potent 本词

  Emphasizes the strength of an effect, influence or substance, such as a drug, poison or argument, rather than a person's muscular power; common in formal or medical language.

  强调效力或影响的强度（如药物、毒药或论点），而非人的体力；多用于正式或医学语境。

  This herbal remedy is so potent that only a small dose is needed.

  这种草药非常强效，只需一小剂量就够了。

• strong

  Refers to a person's or animal's physical power, or the durability of a material; the everyday, general-purpose word for bodily strength.

  指人或动物的体力，或材料的坚固程度；是表示身体力量最常用、最通俗的词。

  You need strong legs to climb that mountain in one day.

  你需要有力的双腿才能一天内爬上那座山。

• powerful

  Describes the capacity to produce great force or impact, especially in machines, engines, or natural events; often broader in scale than 'strong' and applies to things as well as people.

  指产生巨大力量或影响的能力，尤其用于机器、引擎或自然现象等；范围常比strong更大，既可用于事物也可用于人。

  The tornado was powerful enough to lift cars off the ground.

  这场龙卷风威力强大，足以把汽车掀离地面。

Potent, strong, and powerful all mean having great strength. Potent stresses the strength of an effect or substance, like a drug or argument, not muscles. Strong is the everyday word for physical power or a material's durability. Powerful stresses producing great force, especially in machines.

这三个词都可表示“强大的、有力的”，但侧重不同：potent强调药物、毒药或论点等产生的强烈效力，较少用于人的体力；strong是最通用的词，多指人或物本身具备的体力或坚固程度；powerful强调产生巨大力量或影响的能力，常用于机器、自然现象等，范围比strong更广。这里不比较strong表示“味道浓”或“观点坚定”等其他义项。