far from powerless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far from powerless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that someone or something has significant strength or influence, contrary to the implication of being powerless. Example: "Despite the challenges, the community was far from powerless in advocating for their rights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

It is far from powerless.

The Economist

But Congress is far from powerless.

The New York Times

The Fed is far from powerless here.

The Economist

"The good news is that we are far from powerless in this struggle.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And although extraordinary powers of investigation and arrest are sometimes needed to apprehend wrongdoers, they are subject to robust legal protections for citizens.Far from being powerless against hackers, companies can do a lot to help themselvesApplied to cyberspace, this means that, far from being powerless against hackers, companies can do a lot to help themselves.

The Economist

That was malfeasance, declared the eminent U.S. economist: "Far from being powerless, the Bank of Japan could achieve a great deal if it were willing to abandon its excessive caution and its defensive response to criticism".

The New York Times

In a hard-hitting 2000 paper titled "Japanese Monetary Policy: A Case of Self-Induced Paralysis?" Bernanke declared that "far from being powerless, the Bank of Japan could achieve a great deal if it were willing to abandon its excessive caution and its defensive response to criticism".

The New York Times - Magazine

In an Oct. 14 motion filed with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, attorneys representing the House make the case that gay people "are far from politically powerless" and can't say they face "discrimination [that] is unlikely to be soon rectified by legislative means" -- unlike other groups of people who are discriminated against.

Huffington Post

Far from being just one powerless competitor among many, companies like Google and Facebook and Apple have immense leverage, which investors demand they exploit to the maximum extent possible.

The New Yorker

That was something Turner's impoverished Hereford were powerless to do when they went up four years ago - when he found himself unable to compete on a far-from-level playing field, forced to call in favours and beg for loan players, rather than risk money that his unfashionable club had not got.

BBC

"Many in EU see the EU as bureaucratic, undemocratic, far from the daily concerns of and powerless to solve major issues such as migration".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far from powerless" to strongly assert that an entity possesses considerable strength or influence, especially when there might be an initial perception of weakness. It adds emphasis and corrects a potential misunderstanding.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "far from powerless" too frequently in casual conversation can sound overly formal or even sarcastic. Opt for simpler, more direct alternatives like "quite strong" or "very capable" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from powerless" functions as an adjectival phrase. It modifies a noun or pronoun by emphasizing that the subject possesses power or influence, contrary to what might be expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "far from powerless" is a grammatically sound and useful expression to emphasize that someone or something has significant power or influence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it serves to correct a potential misunderstanding and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While it is correct, it's best to avoid overuse in very informal settings, opting for simpler alternatives when appropriate. Its strength lies in its ability to highlight a surprising or often overlooked capacity for influence or strength.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anything but weak

Uses a double negative to affirm strength, differing in its indirect approach.

certainly not helpless

Highlights the lack of helplessness, differing by focusing on the absence of a negative trait.

quite capable

Emphasizes the ability to do something effectively, differing from the original by focusing on competence.

not lacking influence

Emphasizes the presence of influence by negating its absence, creating a more formal tone.

commanding considerable power

Focuses on the power aspect, using "commanding" to suggest authority and control.

actually quite strong

Highlights the strength aspect, adding emphasis with "actually" and differing by using a more direct adjective.

possessing significant influence

Focuses on the influence aspect, making it more formal and explicit.

not without resources

Emphasizes the availability of resources, differing by focusing on the tools and support available.

demonstrating considerable agency

Highlights the capacity to act independently and make choices, making it more formal and specific.

exhibiting significant control

Highlights the ability to exert control, differing by focusing on the power to direct or manage.

FAQs

How can I use "far from powerless" in a sentence?

You can use "far from powerless" to emphasize that someone or something has strength or influence despite appearances. For example: "Despite the challenges, the community was "far from powerless" in advocating for their rights."

What are some alternatives to "far from powerless"?

Alternatives include "quite capable", "anything but weak", or "not lacking influence". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "far from powerless" or "quite powerful"?

Both "far from powerless" and "quite powerful" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Far from powerless" implies a correction of a potential misunderstanding, while "quite powerful" is a more direct assertion of strength.

What is the nuance when I say "far from powerless"?

Saying something is "far from powerless" suggests that there might be an initial impression of weakness or ineffectiveness, which is then corrected by emphasizing the actual strength or influence present.