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Potent vs Active - What's the difference?

potent | active |

As adjectives the difference between potent and active

is that potent is possessing strength while active is having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.

As nouns the difference between potent and active

is that potent is (tincture) a heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white t shapes while active is a person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.

potent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Possessing strength.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Little disappointed, then, she turned attention to "Chat of the Social World," gossip which exercised potent fascination upon the girl's intelligence.
  • Being effective, causing body effects.
  • :
  • Having a sharp or offensive taste.
  • (lb) Able to procreate.
  • Very powerful or effective.
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:harsh and potent injuries
  • *(John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • *:Moses once more his potent rod extends.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (tincture) A heraldic fur formed by a regular tessellation of blue and white T shapes.
  • (obsolete) A prince; a potentate.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) A staff or crutch.
  • Antonyms

    * impotent

    Derived terms

    * idempotent * nilpotent * unipotent * (l)

    active

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.
  • :
  • Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble.
  • :
  • In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; — opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct.
  • :
  • # Being an active volcano.
  • Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; — opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert.
  • :
  • *
  • *:This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.He was smooth-faced, and his fresh skin and well-developed figure bespoke the man in good physical condition through active exercise, yet well content with the world's apportionment.
  • Requiring or implying action or exertion;—opposed to sedentary or to tranquil.
  • :
  • Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; — opposed to speculative or theoretical.
  • :
  • Brisk; lively.
  • :
  • Implying or producing rapid action.
  • :
  • About verbs.
  • #Applied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active voice.
  • #Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.
  • #Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.
  • (lb) (of a homosexual man) enjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner.
  • Synonyms

    * (1): acting * (2): agile, nimble * (3): in action, in force, working * (4): busy, deedful, diligent, energetic * (6): operative, practical * (7): brisk, lively * (9.2): transitive * (10): top * See also

    Antonyms

    * (1): passive * (2): indolent, lethargic * (3): dormant, extinct, quiescent * (4): dull, indolent, inert, sluggish * (5): sedentary, tranquil * (6): speculative, theoretical * (7): slow * (9.1): passive * (10): passive, bottom

    Derived terms

    * cloud-active

    See also

    * versatile (in relation to sense 10 )

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person or thing that is acting or capable of acting.