a colossal power

USAGE SUMMARY

'a colossal power' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to a tremendous or great amount of power or strength. For example: "The storm unleashed a colossal power that left the town in ruins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But if you look at it in purely Machiavellian terms, what you see is a colossal power grab that threatens to turn the federal government into a kind of giant Enron -- a huge, impenetrable black box filled with self-dealing insiders whose scheme is the securing of individual profits at the expense of an ocean of unwitting involuntary shareholders, previously known as taxpayers.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Referring to Brown in the same article, he generously wrote: "I agree that he is a figure of colossal power and intellect; his presence in the Commons and command of the chamber are indeed awesome".

Independent

It has a simplicity and grace that disguises its colossal power – a ladder twisting up to the right.

The Guardian

Stretching for around 5,500 miles along China's wild frontiers, the Great Wall is a potent symbol of the colossal power and iron will once wielded by the Chinese empire.

BBC

Havoc didn't get into the gritty details of what fueled the beef during the HuffPost Live interview, simply stating that he got mad at Prodigy, went "crazy" for a moment and said a lot of things he didn't mean, forgetting the colossal power of platforms like Twitter.

Huffington Post

As is usually the case, they have colossal power up front but little behind it.

The Guardian - Sport

Nietzsche was himself an amateur pianist and composer: the kind of worshipful outsider for whom music seemed, as Safranski notes, the "authentic reality and colossal power," far beyond anything that mere life could offer.

The New Yorker

But even a faintly out-of-sorts Nadal is still a mighty proposition for the world's 69th best player, and Sweeting, already defeated twice by Nadal this year, simply could not cope with the Majorcan's colossal power.

Independent

The colossal power failure that swept through half of India early Tuesday afternoon, causing disruptions in the lives of hundreds of millions of people, has earned India a new and dubious distinction: Host of the World's Largest Blackout.

The New York Times

It's as if Scorsese had lifted the lid from that tradition and, in effect, from his own vertiginously cinephilic psyche and movie-obsessed childhood to suggest the terrifying destruction of identity — through the steady and joyful consumption of ecstatic symbols and the disproportionately colossal power of their latent meaning — that results.

The New Yorker

As the vice-president in charge of the economy, he has colossal powers of patronage.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing the phrase "a colossal power", ensure the context clearly establishes what possesses this power and the scope or impact of its influence. Avoid vague or unsubstantiated claims of greatness.

Common error

Avoid using "a colossal power" to describe situations that are merely significant or important. Reserve this phrase for instances where the scale or impact is truly exceptional to maintain credibility and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a colossal power" functions as a noun phrase with an adjective modifying the noun. The adjective "colossal" intensifies the meaning of "power", indicating an exceptionally large or impressive magnitude of influence or strength. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a colossal power" is a valid and impactful phrase used to emphasize the immense scale or intensity of something's influence or strength. While relatively rare in usage, as noted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly supports the claim of exceptional magnitude. Remember that alternatives like "a tremendous force" or "a massive influence" may offer more precise nuances depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tremendous force

Replaces "power" with "force", emphasizing the strength and impact.

a massive influence

Substitutes "power" with "influence", highlighting the ability to affect others.

an immense strength

Emphasizes physical or inherent capacity rather than control.

a gigantic capability

Focuses on the ability to perform or achieve something.

a significant authority

Highlights the legitimate or recognized control.

a vast dominion

Suggests widespread control over a territory or people.

an extraordinary capacity

Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the ability.

a substantial leverage

Focuses on the ability to exert pressure or advantage.

a sweeping control

Highlights comprehensive or extensive command.

a boundless energy

Conveys limitless vigor and activity rather than direct influence.

FAQs

How can I use "a colossal power" in a sentence?

Use "a colossal power" to describe something possessing immense strength, influence, or magnitude. For example, "The hurricane demonstrated "a colossal power" as it swept across the coastline."

What can I say instead of "a colossal power"?

You can use alternatives like "a tremendous force", "a massive influence", or "an immense strength" depending on the specific context.

Is it more appropriate to use "a great power" or "a colossal power"?

"A great power" generally refers to a nation with significant international influence. "A colossal power", in contrast, emphasizes the sheer size or intensity of something's strength or impact. Choose the phrase that best aligns with the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "a colossal power" and "a formidable power"?

"A formidable power" implies something that inspires respect and perhaps fear due to its strength. "A colossal power" focuses on the immense size or magnitude of the power itself. A formidable power may be relatively small but intensely effective, whereas a colossal power is inherently large-scale.