be powerful against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be powerful against" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the effectiveness or strength of something in opposing or combating another thing, often in contexts like medicine, strategy, or competition. Example: "The new vaccine is designed to be powerful against the latest strain of the virus."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In fact, recently, PARP inhibitors have been shown to be powerful against DNA repair-deficient tumours with the advantage of low cytotoxicity (Bryant et al, 2005; Farmer et al, 2005).

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In contrast, the two-df test is powerful against unrestricted alternatives but, in consequence, is considerably less powerful against the trend alternative.

Genome Medicine

Reavers (Firefly) and High Templars are powerful against Zerg, since Zerg tends to mass units.

WikiHow

Yet there are at least two wiretapped conversations between Mr. Rajaratnam and his colleagues that, if used at trial, could be powerful evidence against Mr. Gupta.

The New York Times

While patents can be powerful legal weapons against copycat competitors, it bears repeating that they are always temporary.

The Washington Post

But there are powerful forces against it.

The New Yorker

However, choice and scale are powerful bulwarks against deception.

The Economist

Respect and understanding are powerful forces against hatred.

The Guardian

Of course there were powerful forces against him.

The Guardian

Additionally, there is powerful stigma against changing in midlife that perpetuates the myth of the midlife crisis.

University of California, Berkeley

People said the authority could be abused to spy on Americans without a warrant, but the Bush administration said there were powerful safeguards against that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be powerful against", ensure the subject clearly demonstrates a capacity to counteract or resist something specific. For example, "This drug is shown to "be powerful against" cancer cells".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the strength or effectiveness of the subject. Instead of saying "This is "be powerful against" everything", provide specific examples to support the claim.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be powerful against" functions as a predicate adjective describing the capability of a subject to strongly oppose or counteract something. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts, indicating its role in expressing effectiveness and strength.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

32%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be powerful against" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something that possesses strength or effectiveness in opposing or resisting something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently in news, scientific, and general contexts, suggesting a neutral formality level. Alternative phrases include "be effective against" and "be resistant to". When writing, avoid overstating the effectiveness and ensure claims are supported by specific examples. Ludwig’s analysis highlights the phrase’s versatility and common usage across diverse domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be effective against

Replaces "powerful" with "effective", focusing on the ability to produce a desired result or effect.

be resistant to

Shifts the focus to the quality of withstanding or opposing something.

be a strong defense against

Emphasizes the defensive aspect and strength in opposition.

be a potent force against

Substitutes "powerful" with "potent", highlighting the strength and effectiveness.

be a major deterrent to

Focuses on the ability to discourage or prevent something from happening.

be a formidable obstacle to

Highlights the ability to act as a significant impediment.

be well-equipped to counter

Emphasizes preparedness and resources to oppose effectively.

offer strong protection from

Highlights the ability to safeguard and shield against something.

provide substantial immunity to

Focuses on the condition of being resistant to a particular disease or influence.

be highly influential in preventing

Highlights the significant impact in stopping something from occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "be powerful against" in a sentence?

Use "be powerful against" to describe something effective in combating or resisting something else. For instance, "This antibiotic is "be powerful against" many types of bacteria".

What can I say instead of "be powerful against"?

You can use alternatives like "be effective against", "be resistant to", or "be a strong defense against" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is powerful against"?

Yes, "is powerful against" is grammatically correct. For example, "The vaccine is "be powerful against" the virus".

What's the difference between "be powerful against" and "be effective against"?

While both phrases indicate something combats something else, "be powerful against" emphasizes strength, while "be effective against" focuses on achieving the desired result. "The treatment is "be powerful against" the disease" suggests the treatment has great strength, while "The treatment is "be effective against" the disease" means it successfully treats the disease.