Strength vs. Power: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 3, 2023
Strength refers to the ability to withstand or exert force, while Power denotes the capacity to act or produce an effect, often quickly.
Key Differences
Strength emphasizes the ability to resist force or pressure, whether it's physical, emotional, or mental, while Power often relates to the capability to do, influence, or directly cause a specific outcome.
In the realm of physical fitness, strength might refer to the amount of force muscles can produce, whereas power refers to the speed at which that force can be applied.
From a societal perspective, strength might be seen as resilience or fortitude in challenging situations, while power typically connotes influence, control, or dominance over others or circumstances.
Both strength and power have metaphoric applications too. Strength could indicate the durability of a belief or the depth of one's character, while power might signify authority or supremacy in various contexts.
While there are contexts where strength and power might be used interchangeably, especially in casual conversation, they have distinct nuances that differentiate their core meanings.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Ability to resist or exert force
Capacity to act or produce an effect
Physical Context
Amount of force muscles can produce
Speed at which force is applied
Societal Context
Resilience, fortitude
Influence, control, dominance
Metaphoric Use
Durability of belief, depth of character
Authority, supremacy
Interchangeability
Sometimes used interchangeably but has nuances
Sometimes overlaps with strength, but emphasizes action/effect
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Strength and Power Definitions
Strength
Emotional or mental qualities necessary in dealing with situations.
Her strength during tough times was commendable.
Power
The capacity to perform or act effectively.
The power of his speech moved the audience.
Strength
The potency or degree of an element or quality.
The strength of the coffee was too much for him.
Power
The ability or capacity to act or do something effectively
Is it in your power to undo this injustice?.
Strength
A beneficial quality or attribute.
Diversity is a strength in any team.
Power
Often powers A specific capacity, faculty, or aptitude
Her powers of concentration.
Strength
The state or quality of being strong; physical power or capacity
The strength needed to lift a box.
Power
Physical strength or force exerted or capable of being exerted
The power of the waves.
Strength
The capacity to resist attack; impregnability
The strength of the ship's armor.
Power
Effectiveness at moving one's emotions or changing how one thinks
A novel of great power.
Strength
The capacity to resist strain or stress; durability
The strength of the cables.
Power
The ability or official capacity to exercise control; authority
How long has that party been in power?.
Strength
The ability to deal with difficult situations or to maintain a moral or intellectual position
Does he have the strength to overcome such a tragedy?.
Power
The military strength or economic or political influence of a nation or other group
That country projects its power throughout the region.
Strength
The number of people constituting a normal or ideal organization
The police force has been at half strength since the budget cuts.
Power
A country, nation, or other political unit having great influence or control over others
The western powers.
Strength
Capability in terms of numbers or resources
An army of fearsome strength.
Power
A supernatural being
The powers of evil.
Strength
An attribute or quality of particular worth or utility; an asset
Your easygoing nature is one of your strengths.
Power
Powers(Christianity) The sixth of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology.
Strength
One that is regarded as the embodiment of protective or supportive power; a support or mainstay
Her family has been her strength in difficult times.
Power
The energy or motive force by which a physical system or machine is operated
Turbines turned by steam power.
A sailing ship driven by wind power.
Strength
Degree of concentration, distillation, or saturation
What's the strength of that cleaning solution?.
Power
The capacity of a system or machine to operate
A vehicle that runs under its own power.
Strength
Operative effectiveness or potency
The strength of the drug.
Power
Electrical or mechanical energy, especially as used to assist or replace human energy.
Strength
Intensity, as of sound or light
The strength of the wind.
Power
Electricity supplied to a home, building, or community
A storm that cut off power to the whole region.
Strength
Intensity of emotion or belief
The strength of feeling among the voters.
Power
(Physics) The rate at which work is done, expressed as the amount of work per unit time and commonly measured in units such as the watt and horsepower.
Strength
Cogency or persuasiveness
The strength of his argument.
Power
The product of applied potential difference and current in a direct-current circuit.
Strength
Effective or binding force; efficacy
The strength of an argument.
Power
The product of the effective values of the voltage and current with the cosine of the phase angle between current and voltage in an alternating-current circuit.
Strength
Firmness of or a continuous rising tendency in prices, as of a currency or market.
Power
See exponent.
Strength
(Games) Power derived from the value of playing cards held.
Power
The number of elements in a finite set.
Strength
The quality or degree of being strong.
It requires great strength to lift heavy objects.
Power
(Statistics) In a statistical test, the probability of correctly rejecting the null hypothesis when it is false.
Strength
The intensity of a force or power; potency.
He had the strength of ten men.
Power
A measure of the magnification of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or telescope.
Strength
The strongest part of something; that on which confidence or reliance is based.
Power
Chiefly Upper Southern US A large number or amount. See Note at powerful.
Strength
A positive attribute.
We all have our own strengths and weaknesses.
Power
(Archaic) An armed force.
Strength
(obsolete) An armed force, a body of troops.
Power
Of or relating to political, social, or economic control
A power struggle.
A power base.
Strength
(obsolete) A strong place; a stronghold.
Power
Operated with mechanical or electrical energy in place of bodily exertion
A power tool.
Power car windows.
Strength
(obsolete) To strengthen all senses.
Power
Of or relating to the generation or transmission of electricity
Power companies.
Power lines.
Strength
The quality or state of being strong; ability to do or to bear; capacity for exertion or endurance, whether physical, intellectual, or moral; force; vigor; power; as, strength of body or of the arm; strength of mind, of memory, or of judgment.
All his [Samson's] strength in his hairs were.
Thou must outliveThy youth, thy strength, thy beauty.
Power
(Informal) Of or relating to influential business or professional practices
A pinstriped suit with a power tie.
Met with high-level executives at a power breakfast.
Strength
Power to resist force; solidity or toughness; the quality of bodies by which they endure the application of force without breaking or yielding; - in this sense opposed to frangibility; as, the strength of a bone, of a beam, of a wall, a rope, and the like.
Power
To supply with power, especially mechanical or electrical power.
Strength
Power of resisting attacks; impregnability.
Power
The ability to do or undergo something.
Strength
That quality which tends to secure results; effective power in an institution or enactment; security; validity; legal or moral force; logical conclusiveness; as, the strength of social or legal obligations; the strength of law; the strength of public opinion; strength of evidence; strength of argument.
Power
(social) The ability to coerce, influence, or control.
Strength
One who, or that which, is regarded as embodying or affording force, strength, or firmness; that on which confidence or reliance is based; support; security.
God is our refuge and strength.
What they boded would be a mischief to us, you are providing shall be one of our principal strengths.
Certainly there is not a greater strength against temptation.
Power
(countable) The ability to affect or influence.
Strength
Force as measured; amount, numbers, or power of any body, as of an army, a navy, and the like; as, what is the strength of the enemy by land, or by sea?
Power
Control or coercion, particularly legal or political (jurisdiction).
Strength
Vigor or style; force of expression; nervous diction; - said of literary work.
And praise the easy vigor of a lifeWhere Denham's strength and Waller's sweetness join.
Power
The people in charge of legal or political power, the government.
Strength
Intensity; - said of light or color.
Bright Phœbus in his strength.
Power
(metonymically) An influential nation, company, or other such body.
Strength
Intensity or degree of the distinguishing and essential element; spirit; virtue; excellence; - said of liquors, solutions, etc.; as, the strength of wine or of acids.
Power
An army, a military force.
Strength
A strong place; a stronghold.
Power
Effectiveness.
Strength
To strengthen.
Power
Physical force or strength.
He needed a lot of power to hit the ball out of the stadium.
Strength
The property of being physically or mentally strong;
Fatigue sapped his strength
Power
Electricity or a supply of electricity.
After the pylons collapsed, this town was without power for a few days.
Strength
Capability in terms of personnel and materiel that affect the capacity to fight a war;
We faced an army of great strength
Politicians have neglected our military posture
Power
A measure of the rate of doing work or transferring energy.
Strength
Physical energy or intensity;
He hit with all the force he could muster
It was destroyed by the strength of the gale
A government has not the vitality and forcefulness of a living man
Power
The strength by which a lens or mirror magnifies an optical image.
We need a microscope with higher power.
Strength
An asset of special worth or utility;
Cooking is his forte
Power
A large amount or number.
Strength
The power to induce the taking of a course of action or the embracing of a point of view by means of argument or entreaty;
The strength of his argument settled the matter
Power
Any of the elementary forms or parts of machines: three primary (the lever, inclined plane, and pulley) and three secondary (the wheel-and-axle, wedge, and screw).
The mechanical powers
Strength
The amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation);
He adjusted the intensity of the sound
They measured the station's signal strength
Power
A measure of the effectiveness that a force producing a physical effect has over time. If linear, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the displacement of or in an object) ÷ time. If rotational, the quotient of: (force multiplied by the angle of displacement) ÷ time.
Strength
Capacity to produce strong physiological or chemical effects;
The toxin's potency
The strength of the drinks
Power
(mathematics)
Strength
The condition of financial success;
The strength of the company's stock in recent weeks
Power
A product of equal factors (and generalizations of this notion): , read as " to the power of " or the like, is called a power and denotes the product , where appears times in the product; is called the base and the exponent.
Strength
Permanence by virtue of the power to resist stress or force;
They advertised the durability of their products
Power
(set theory) Cardinality.
Strength
The capacity to resist force or pressure.
The pillar's strength supports the building's weight.
Power
(statistics) The probability that a statistical test will reject the null hypothesis when the alternative hypothesis is true.
Strength
Physical power and energy.
Lifting heavy weights showcased her immense strength.
Power
In Christian angelology, an intermediate level of angels, ranked above archangels, but exact position varies by classification scheme.
Power
(transitive) To provide power for (a mechanical or electronic device).
This CD player is powered by batteries.
Power
(transitive) To hit or kick something forcefully.
Power
To enable or provide the impetus for.
Power
Impressive.
Power
Same as Poor, the fish.
Power
Ability to act, regarded as latent or inherent; the faculty of doing or performing something; capacity for action or performance; capability of producing an effect, whether physical or moral: potency; might; as, a man of great power; the power of capillary attraction; money gives power.
Power
Ability, regarded as put forth or exerted; strength, force, or energy in action; as, the power of steam in moving an engine; the power of truth, or of argument, in producing conviction; the power of enthusiasm.
Power
Capacity of undergoing or suffering; fitness to be acted upon; susceptibility; - called also passive power; as, great power of endurance.
Power, then, is active and passive; faculty is active power or capacity; capacity is passive power.
Power
The exercise of a faculty; the employment of strength; the exercise of any kind of control; influence; dominion; sway; command; government.
Power is no blessing in itself but when it is employed to protect the innocent.
Power
The agent exercising an ability to act; an individual invested with authority; an institution, or government, which exercises control; as, the great powers of Europe; hence, often, a superhuman agent; a spirit; a divinity.
And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
Power
A military or naval force; an army or navy; a great host.
Never such a power . . . Was levied in the body of a land.
Power
A large quantity; a great number; as, a power o good things.
Power
The rate at which mechanical energy is exerted or mechanical work performed, as by an engine or other machine, or an animal, working continuously; as, an engine of twenty horse power.
Power
A mechanical agent; that from which useful mechanical energy is derived; as, water power; steam power; hand power, etc.
Power
The product arising from the multiplication of a number into itself; as, a square is the second power, and a cube is third power, of a number.
Power
A machine acted upon by an animal, and serving as a motor to drive other machinery; as, a dog power.
Power
Mental or moral ability to act; one of the faculties which are possessed by the mind or soul; as, the power of thinking, reasoning, judging, willing, fearing, hoping, etc.
The guiltiness of my mind, the sudden surprise of my powers, drove the grossness . . . into a received belief.
Power
The degree to which a lens, mirror, or any optical instrument, magnifies; in the telescope, and usually in the microscope, the number of times it multiplies, or augments, the apparent diameter of an object; sometimes, in microscopes, the number of times it multiplies the apparent surface.
Power
An authority enabling a person to dispose of an interest vested either in himself or in another person; ownership by appointment.
Power
Hence, vested authority to act in a given case; as, the business was referred to a committee with power.
Power
Possession of controlling influence;
The deterrent power of nuclear weapons
The power of his love saved her
His powerfulness was concealed by a gentle facade
Power
(physics) the rate of doing work; measured in watts (= joules/second)
Power
Possession of the qualities (especially mental qualities) required to do something or get something done;
Danger heightened his powers of discrimination
Power
A state powerful enough to influence events throughout the world
Power
(of a government or government official) holding an office means being in power;
Being in office already gives a candidate a great advantage
During his first year in office
During his first year in power
The power of the president
Power
One possessing or exercising power or influence or authority;
The mysterious presence of an evil power
May the force be with you
The forces of evil
Power
Physical strength
Power
A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
Power
A very wealthy or powerful businessman;
An oil baron
Power
Supply the force or power for the functioning of;
The gasoline powers the engines
Power
The ability to influence or control.
The president holds significant power over the nation.
Power
Physical might or force.
The car's engine has impressive power.
Power
A right or authority given or delegated.
The manager has the power to make key decisions.
Power
Energy used to do work.
The city lost power during the storm.
FAQs
How does strength differ from power in fitness?
Strength relates to the force muscles can produce, while power involves the speed of force application.
Can strength be developed?
Yes, strength, both physical and emotional, can be cultivated over time.
Can someone have power without strength?
Yes, power can refer to influence or authority, which may not necessarily require physical strength.
How do power dynamics play out in societies?
Power dynamics reflect the distribution of control, influence, and authority among individuals or groups.
What does "power over others" mean?
It refers to having control, influence, or authority over individuals or groups.
Is power always visible?
No, power can be overt or covert, with some forms of influence being subtle or unseen.
Is emotional resilience a form of strength?
Yes, emotional resilience is often seen as a type of emotional or mental strength.
Can strength be a negative trait?
If misused or leading to stubbornness, it might be seen negatively, but strength itself is neutral.
How is power used in physics?
In physics, power refers to the rate at which work is done or energy is transferred.
Why do people seek power?
Reasons vary, including desire for control, influence, recognition, or to achieve specific goals.
Can strength be measured?
Yes, especially in a physical context, using tools like dynamometers.
What's a synonym for strength in terms of character?
Fortitude or resilience can be synonyms in that context.
Is power always associated with authority?
Often, but not always. Power can also refer to physical force or the rate of doing work.
Is inner strength the same as resilience?
They're closely related; inner strength supports resilience, helping one cope with challenges.
Can power be given or taken away?
Yes, power can be delegated, assumed, or revoked in various contexts.
Are power struggles common in organizations?
Yes, power struggles can arise when individuals or groups vie for influence or control.
What's the opposite of strength?
Weakness is often considered the opposite of strength.
What symbols often represent power?
Crowns, thrones, scepters, and certain animals like lions or eagles.
Can power exist without hierarchy?
While power often manifests in hierarchical structures, it can exist in other forms like influence or expertise.
Is strength always physical?
No, strength can also refer to emotional, mental, and moral fortitude.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
