World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesHard power
/ˈhɑːd ˌpaʊ.ər/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A coercive approach to international relations, involving the use of military and economic force to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies.
"The government decided to project hard power by deploying naval fleets to the disputed region." - 2
Tangible military and economic assets that can be utilized to compel compliance.
"Economic sanctions are a primary instrument of modern hard power."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Coined by American political scientist Joseph Nye in the late 20th century, the term combines the adjective 'hard' (denoting force, rigidity, and severity) with the noun 'power' (derived from Latin posse, meaning 'to be able'). It emerged within international relations theory to contrast with the newly introduced concept of 'soft power'.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Hard power"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Hard power" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
puissance dure
Transliteration: pɥis.ɑ̃s dyʁ
"La puissance dure reste un pilier de la stratégie géopolitique."
harte Macht
Transliteration: ˈhaʁtə maxt
"Ein Land muss manchmal harte Macht einsetzen, um seine Interessen zu wahren."
potenza dura
Transliteration: poˈtɛn.tsa ˈdu.ra
"La diplomazia non si basa solo sulla potenza dura."
poder duro
Transliteration: poˈdeɾ ˈdu.ɾo
"El uso del poder duro puede generar tensiones internacionales."
poder duro
Transliteration: puˈdeɾ ˈdu.ɾu
"O poder duro envolve o uso de forças militares e econômicas."
कठोर शक्ति
Transliteration: kathor shakti
"अंतर्राष्ट्रीय राजनीति में कठोर शक्ति का अपना महत्व है।"
硬实力
Transliteration: yìng shílì
"一个国家的硬实力包括其军事和经济力量。"
경권력
Transliteration: gyeong-gwon-ryeok
"국가 안보를 위해 경권력은 여전히 중요하다."
ハード・パワー
Transliteration: haado pawaa
"ハード・パワーは軍事力や経済制裁などを指す。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsUsed as a mild oath to express anger, frustration, astonishment, or emphasis.
Growing, developing, or increasing at a rapid rate.
An annual festival celebrated on February 14th dedicated to expressing affection, love, and appreciation, typically between romantic partners.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Hard power"
Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.
Enhance Your Writing & Grammar Precision
Linguistic Origins & Word Stories
View all stories →How Are Palisade Cells Adapted for Photosynthesis (and Why Are They Called 'Palisade')?
Palisade mesophyll cells are column-shaped, densely packed with chloroplasts, and positioned near the leaf's upper surface to maximize light absorption for photosynthesis. Their name comes from the French word for a defensive fence of wooden stakes, referencing their tightly aligned, upright cellular structure.
What is a SLOT SWOT Analysis and How Do You Actually Do One?
A SLOT SWOT analysis is an expanded strategic planning framework that blends personal or organizational 'SLOT' (Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, Threats) metrics with traditional 'SWOT' dynamics. It provides a granular approach to evaluating internal capabilities against external market realities.