impactful

/ɪmˈpæktfəl/

/ɪmˈpæktfəl/

Something impactful is effective, or makes a strong impression, like an impactful movie that captures your attention and leaves you feeling deeply moved.

Impactful gets a bad rap from a lot of grammar snobs, who consider it a made-up bit of marketing lingo. It's a real word, though, coined in the 1950s and originally used in the context of political and literary theory. Impactful is from the noun impact, "strong effect." To avoid annoying some grammarians, you can substitute words like "meaningful," "effective," or "powerful." Or just go ahead and say, "This was the most impactful summer of my life!"

Definitions of impactful

1. adjective

   having great power or force or potency or effect
   synonyms: powerful

   effective, effectual, efficacious

   producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect

   potent, stiff, strong

   having a strong physiological or chemical effect

   all-powerful, almighty, omnipotent

   having unlimited power

   coercive

   serving or intended to coerce

   compelling

   driving or forcing

   mighty

   having or showing great strength or force or intensity

   muscular

   having or suggesting great physical power or force

   potent, strong

   having or wielding force or authority

   puissant

   powerful

   regent

   acting or functioning as a regent or ruler

   hegemonic, regnant, reigning, ruling

   exercising power or authority

   strong

   having strength or power greater than average or expected