a potent idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a potent idea" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an idea that is powerful, impactful, or capable of producing significant effects. Example: "The team presented a potent idea that could revolutionize the way we approach renewable energy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

That's a potent idea.

Independent

Boehner's American Dreamland remains a potent idea.

The New York Times

It's a potent idea that Ali sweeps aside with a typical burst of self-aggrandizing blather.

The New York Times

It's such a potent idea: the audience's (self-interested) fascination is guaranteed; gales of (nervous) laughter likewise.

The Guardian

Here, Nicholas T Rinehart outlines the century-long history of the "Black Beethoven" trope and analyses the cultural and racial politics that have made this such a potent idea.

The Guardian - Music

Well before Dickens popularised it, the "fireside" was a potent idea with Hunt, who maintained a heroic geniality in the face of bleak circumstances: sickness, debt, too many children and an increasingly alcoholic wife.Hunt was a poet, essayist and theatre critic.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The Silent Minute itself is a curiously potent idea: a "null", if you like, the absence of action.

The Guardian - Opinion

What it does, he says, "is connect awareness to protest globally… And, of course, the very phrase 'a prisoner of conscience' is a very potent idea.

The Guardian

His conception of the swan figure may not be subtle, and it certainly flirts with an old misogynist dualism — the pristine virgin versus the witchy seductress — but it provides the film, and Ms. Portman, with a dramatically potent idea.

The New York Times

Around the time that "The Sixth Sense" was released, this was a particularly potent idea, as studios tried to build brands around star directors like Quentin Tarantino and the Wachowski brothers (who made "The Matrix"), hoping their names would sell movies the way Hitchcock's once did.

The New York Times

This is an opulently detailed exposition of a simple but potent idea: that music is on some level the same everywhere, and that classical music is no longer a European art.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of an idea, use "a potent idea" to convey its strength and ability to produce significant results, especially in fields like politics, science, or art.

Common error

While "potent" effectively conveys strength, avoid using "a potent idea" in overly casual conversations where simpler words like "strong" or "good" might be more appropriate. Choose vocabulary to match context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a potent idea" functions as a noun phrase where "potent" modifies "idea", indicating that the idea possesses significant power, influence, or effectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms this phrase is both correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a potent idea" describes an idea characterized by its strength, influence, and potential impact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is commonly found in contexts such as news media, science, and encyclopedias, signifying its versatility across various fields. While alternatives like "a powerful concept" or "a compelling notion" exist, "a potent idea" uniquely emphasizes the underlying effectiveness of the concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a powerful concept

Replaces "potent" with "powerful", emphasizing strength and influence.

a compelling notion

Substitutes "potent" with "compelling", highlighting its ability to attract and convince.

an influential concept

Replaces "potent" with "influential", focusing on its ability to affect or change something.

a significant concept

Replaces "potent" with "significant", emphasizing importance and consequence.

an impactful idea

Substitutes "potent" with "impactful", emphasizing the effect it has.

a far-reaching idea

Highlights the broad scope and influence of the idea.

a transformative idea

Emphasizes the idea's capacity to cause significant change.

a groundbreaking idea

Focuses on the novelty and innovative nature of the idea.

a dominant idea

Emphasizes the prevailing influence and widespread acceptance of the idea.

a persuasive concept

Highlights the idea's ability to convince others.

FAQs

How can I use "a potent idea" in a sentence?

You can use "a potent idea" to describe an idea that has a strong influence or effect, such as, "The marketing team presented "a potent idea" that significantly increased sales."

What are some alternatives to "a potent idea"?

Some alternatives to "a potent idea" include "a powerful concept", "a compelling notion", or "an influential concept".

Is it more appropriate to say "a potent idea" or "a powerful idea"?

Both "a potent idea" and "a powerful idea" are correct, but "potent" suggests a more subtle or underlying effectiveness, while "powerful" implies direct and obvious strength.

In what contexts is "a potent idea" most commonly used?

"A potent idea" is frequently used in news media, scientific articles, and encyclopedias to describe ideas with substantial impact or influence within those respective fields.