Mighty vs. Strong — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 26, 2024
"Mighty" implies great power and impressive strength often on a large scale, while "strong" refers to a high degree of physical or inner strength without necessarily being grandiose.
Difference Between Mighty and Strong
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Key Differences
Mighty often connotes a sense of overwhelming or awe-inspiring power, used to describe entities like rivers, armies, or superheroes. Whereas strong describes robustness or resilience, applicable to materials, people, or even arguments, without necessarily evoking a sense of grandeur.
Mighty is typically used in a more figurative or hyperbolic sense, enhancing the scale of the noun it modifies. On the other hand, strong is more literal and commonly used in everyday contexts to refer to physical strength, durability, or the effectiveness of something.
Mighty may imply superiority or dominance in a specific area, such as a mighty ruler or a mighty nation. While strong often focuses on the capability to withstand stress or force, like a strong foundation or a strong will.
Mighty is less frequently used in casual speech and tends to appear more in literary or formal contexts to emphasize extraordinary power. In contrast, strong is a regular part of daily language, utilized across a variety of contexts to imply robust qualities.
Mighty carries an old-fashioned tone that adds a poetic or epic quality to descriptions, making it suitable for storytelling or dramatic narratives. Whereas strong is straightforward and modern, fitting seamlessly into technical, sports, and health-related discussions.
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Comparison Chart
Connotation
Implies overwhelming power or grandeur
Refers to high levels of strength or ability
Usage Context
More figurative, often in formal or literary texts
Common in everyday language, versatile across contexts
Implication
Often suggests dominance or superiority
Focuses on resilience and capability
Frequency of Use
Less common, more poetic or dramatic
Very common, used in various situations
Tone
Old-fashioned, adds dramatic flair
Modern, straightforward
Compare with Definitions
Mighty
Used to describe something formidable or dominant.
He admired the mighty empire that ruled for centuries.
Strong
Able to withstand great force or pressure.
The strong material prevented the structure from collapsing.
Mighty
Reflecting overwhelming force or magnitude.
A mighty effort was needed to accomplish the feat.
Strong
Describing an intense or powerful element or feature.
He made a strong argument in favor of the new policy.
Mighty
Possessing great and impressive power or strength, especially on a large scale.
The mighty wind toppled ancient trees.
Strong
Indicating robustness in health or constitution.
After months of exercise, he felt stronger than ever.
Mighty
Suggestive of god-like or heroic attributes.
Folk tales often depict mighty warriors overcoming great beasts.
Strong
Having great physical power or strength.
She is strong enough to compete in professional weightlifting.
Mighty
Relating to something exceptionally strong in a specific context.
She has a mighty reputation in the legal field.
Strong
Pertaining to an area of proficiency or strength.
Her strong understanding of economics is evident in her work.
Mighty
Having or showing great power, skill, strength, or force
A mighty orator.
A mighty blow.
Strong
Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
She cut through the water with her strong arms
Mighty
Imposing or awesome in size, degree, or extent
A mighty stone fortress.
Strong
Able to withstand force, pressure, or wear
Cotton is strong, hard-wearing, and easy to handle
Mighty
To a great degree; extremely. Used as an intensive
Mighty fine.
Mighty tired. See Note at powerful.
Strong
Very intense
A strong smell
Mighty
A warrior of great strength and courage.
Strong
Used after a number to indicate the size of a group
A hostile crowd several thousands strong
Mighty
Very strong; possessing might.
He's a mighty wrestler, but you are faster than him.
Strong
Denoting a class of verbs in Germanic languages that form the past tense and past participle by a change of vowel within the stem rather than by addition of a suffix (e.g. swim, swam, swum).
Mighty
Very heavy and powerful.
Thor swung his mighty hammer.
He gave the ball a mighty hit.
Strong
Relating to or denoting the strongest of the known kinds of force between particles, which acts between nucleons and other hadrons when closer than about 10⁻¹³ cm (so binding protons in a nucleus despite the repulsion due to their charge), and which conserves strangeness, parity, and isospin.
Mighty
(colloquial) Very large; hefty.
Strong
Physically powerful; capable of exerting great physical force.
Mighty
Accomplished by might; hence, extraordinary; wonderful.
Strong
Marked by great physical power
A strong blow to the head.
Mighty
(informal) Excellent, extremely good.
Tonight's a mighty opportunity to have a party.
She's a mighty cook.
Strong
In good or sound health; robust
A strong constitution.
A strong heart.
Mighty
Very; to a high degree.
You can leave that food in your locker for the weekend, but it's going to smell mighty bad when you come back on Monday.
Pork chops boiled with turnip greens makes a mighty fine meal.
Strong
Economically or financially sound or thriving
A strong economy.
Mighty
Possessing might; having great power or authority.
Wise in heart, and mighty in strength.
Strong
Having force of character, will, morality, or intelligence
A strong personality.
Mighty
Accomplished by might; hence, extraordinary; wonderful.
Strong
Having or showing ability or achievement in a specified field
Students who are strong in chemistry.
Mighty
Denoting an extraordinary degree or quality in respect of size, character, importance, consequences, etc.
Mighty was their fuss about little matters.
Strong
Capable of the effective exercise of authority
A strong leader.
Mighty
A warrior of great force and courage.
Strong
Capable of withstanding force or wear; solid, tough, or firm
A strong building.
A strong fabric.
Mighty
In a great degree; very.
We have a mighty pleasant garden.
Strong
Having great binding strength
A strong adhesive.
Mighty
Having or showing great strength or force or intensity;
Struck a mighty blow
The mighty logger Paul Bunyan
The pen is mightier than the sword
Strong
Not easily captured or defeated
A strong flank.
A strong defense.
Mighty
(Southern regional intensive) very;
The baby is mighty cute
He's mighty tired
It is powerful humid
That boy is powerful big now
They have a right nice place
Strong
Not easily upset; resistant to harmful or unpleasant influences
Strong nerves.
A strong stomach.
Strong
Having force or rapidity of motion
A strong current.
Strong
Persuasive, effective, and cogent
A strong argument.
Strong
Forceful and pointed; emphatic
A strong statement.
Strong
Forthright and explicit, often offensively so
Strong language.
Strong
Extreme; drastic
Had to resort to strong measures.
Strong
Having force of conviction or feeling; uncompromising
Strong faith.
A strong supporter.
Strong
Intense in degree or quality
A strong emotion.
Strong motivation.
Strong
Having an intense or offensive effect on the senses
Strong light.
Strong vinegar.
Strong cologne.
Strong
Clear and loud
A strong voice.
Strong
Readily noticeable; remarkable
A strong resemblance.
A strong contrast.
Strong
Readily detected or received
A strong radio signal.
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient
Mixed a strong solution of bleach and water.
Strong
Containing a considerable percentage of alcohol
Strong punch.
Strong
Powerfully effective
A strong painkiller.
Strong
Of or relating to a color having a high degree of saturation.
Strong
Having a specified number of units or members
A military force 100,000 strong.
Strong
Marked by steady or rising prices
A strong market.
Strong
Of or relating to those verbs in Germanic languages that form their past tense by a change in stem vowel, and their past participles by a change in stem vowel and sometimes by adding the suffix -(e)n, as sing, sang, sung or tear, tore, torn.
Strong
Of or relating to the inflection of nouns or adjectives in Germanic languages with endings that historically did not contain a suffix with an n.
Strong
Stressed or accented in pronunciation or poetic meter. Used of a word or syllable.
Strong
In a strong, powerful, or vigorous manner; forcefully
A salesperson who comes on too strong.
Strong
Capable of producing great physical force.
A big strong man; Jake was tall and strong
Strong
Capable of withstanding great physical force.
A strong foundation; good strong shoes
Strong
(of water, wind, etc.) Having a lot of power.
The man was nearly drowned after a strong undercurrent swept him out to sea.
Strong
Determined; unyielding.
He is strong in the face of adversity.
Strong
Highly stimulating to the senses.
A strong light; a strong taste
Strong
Having an offensive or intense odor or flavor.
A strong smell
Strong
Having a high concentration of an essential or active ingredient.
A strong cup of coffee; a strong medicine
Strong
(specifically) Having a high alcoholic content.
A strong drink
She gets up, and pours herself a strong one. - Eagles, Lying Eyes
Strong
(grammar) Inflecting in a different manner than the one called weak, such as Germanic verbs which change vowels.
A strong verb
Strong
(chemistry) That completely ionizes into anions and cations in a solution.
A strong acid;
A strong base
Strong
(military) Not easily subdued or taken.
A strong position
Strong
Having wealth or resources.
A strong economy
Strong
Impressive, good.
You're working with troubled youth in your off time? That’s strong!
Strong
Having a specified number of people or units.
The enemy's army force was five thousand strong.
Strong
(of a disease or symptom) Severe; very bad or intense.
Strong
Having a wide range of logical consequences; widely applicable. (Often contrasted with a weak statement which it implies.)
Strong
(of an argument) Convincing.
Strong
In a strong manner.
Strong
Having active physical power, or great physical power to act; having a power of exerting great bodily force; vigorous.
That our oxen may be strong to labor.
Orses the strong to greater strength must yield.
Strong
Having passive physical power; having ability to bear or endure; firm; hale; sound; robust; as, a strong constitution; strong health.
Strong
Solid; tough; not easily broken or injured; able to withstand violence; able to sustain attacks; not easily subdued or taken; as, a strong beam; a strong rock; a strong fortress or town.
Strong
Having great military or naval force; powerful; as, a strong army or fleet; a nation strong at sea.
Strong
Having great wealth, means, or resources; as, a strong house, or company of merchants.
Strong
Reaching a certain degree or limit in respect to strength or numbers; as, an army ten thousand strong.
Strong
Moving with rapidity or force; violent; forcible; impetuous; as, a strong current of water or wind; the wind was strong from the northeast; a strong tide.
Strong
Adapted to make a deep or effectual impression on the mind or imagination; striking or superior of the kind; powerful; forcible; cogent; as, a strong argument; strong reasons; strong evidence; a strong example; strong language.
Strong
Ardent; eager; zealous; earnestly engaged; as, a strong partisan; a strong Whig or Tory.
Her mother, ever strong against that match.
Strong
Having virtues of great efficacy; or, having a particular quality in a great degree; as, a strong powder or tincture; a strong decoction; strong tea or coffee.
Strong
Full of spirit; containing a large proportion of alcohol; intoxicating; as, strong liquors.
Strong
Affecting any sense powerfully; as, strong light, colors, etc.; a strong flavor of onions; a strong scent.
Strong
Solid; nourishing; as, strong meat.
Strong
Well established; firm; not easily overthrown or altered; as, a strong custom; a strong belief.
Strong
Violent; vehement; earnest; ardent.
He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.
Strong
Having great force, vigor, power, or the like, as the mind, intellect, or any faculty; as, a man of a strong mind, memory, judgment, or imagination.
I was stronger in prophecy than in criticism.
Strong
Vigorous; effective; forcible; powerful.
Like her sweet voice is thy harmonious song,As high, as sweet, as easy, and as strong.
Strong
Tending to higher prices; rising; as, a strong market.
Strong
Pertaining to, or designating, a verb which forms its preterit (imperfect) by a variation in the root vowel, and the past participle (usually) by the addition of -en (with or without a change of the root vowel); as in the verbs strive, strove, striven; break, broke, broken; drink, drank, drunk. Opposed to weak, or regular. See Weak.
Strong
Having strength or power greater than average or expected;
A strong radio signal
Strong medicine
A strong man
Strong
Used of syllables or musical beats
Strong
Not faint or feeble;
A strong odor of burning rubber
Strong
Having or wielding force or authority;
Providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons
Strong
Having a strong physiological or chemical effect;
A potent toxin
Potent liquor
A potent cup of tea
Strong
Able to withstand attack;
An impregnable fortress
Fortifications that made the frontier inviolable
Strong
Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings
Strong
Of verbs not having standard (or regular) inflection;
`sing' is a strong verb
Strong
Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor
Strong
Freshly made or left;
A warm trail
The scent is warm
Strong
Strong and sure;
A firm grasp
Gave a strong pull on the rope
Common Curiosities
What are examples of strong materials?
Examples of strong materials include steel, titanium, and reinforced concrete.
Is mighty a common adjective in modern language?
Mighty is less common in casual speech and more often found in literary or formal settings.
Can the terms mighty and strong be used interchangeably?
While there is some overlap, mighty often conveys a higher or more dramatic degree of power compared to strong.
What makes someone mighty versus strong?
Mighty implies a grand or awe-inspiring level of power, often in a broader or more dramatic context, whereas strong refers to physical power, resilience, or effectiveness.
Is mighty often associated with historical or mythical figures?
Yes, mighty is frequently used to describe historical rulers or mythical heroes, adding to their legendary status.
What are the traits of a strong personality?
Traits of a strong personality include resilience, confidence, and the ability to handle stress effectively.
How is mighty used in literature?
In literature, mighty is used to enhance the dramatic or epic qualities of a character, setting, or action.
What is an example of a strong flavor?
A strong flavor could be something like black coffee or dark chocolate, which are both intense and powerful.
How do you strengthen an argument?
To strengthen an argument, you can provide solid evidence, use logical reasoning, and address counterarguments effectively.
What are signs of a strong educational foundation?
Signs include excellent critical thinking skills, a good grasp of fundamental concepts, and the ability to apply knowledge effectively.
Can organizations be described as mighty?
Yes, organizations can be described as mighty if they are powerful and dominant in their field.
Are there physical exercises to become stronger?
Yes, exercises like weightlifting, resistance training, and bodyweight exercises help in building physical strength.
What makes a company strong in the market?
A company is considered strong in the market if it has solid financials, a good reputation, and a competitive advantage.
Why might someone use mighty to describe an event?
Someone might use mighty to describe an event to emphasize its scale, impact, or significance.
Can a flavor be mighty?
While unusual, a flavor can be described as mighty if it is overpoweringly strong or dominant.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
