How to say "influential" in Japanese

• 有力ゆうりょくJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounThe common, neutral choice for the plain sense of influential: someone or something that carries real weight or is prominent and leading. When you mean influential with no extra coloring, this is the default.
  コカ・コーラは清涼飲料水せいりょういんりょうすいではいつも最さい有力ゆうりょく会社かいしゃだ。↗

  Coke has always been the top dog when it comes to soft drinks.
• 幅利きはばきき
  nounA noun for a person of influence who wields power within a circle or field; it can suggest throwing one's weight around. Less common, and seldom the word for the plain adjective 'influential'.
• 羽振りがいいはぶりがいい
  expression, i-adjective (よい/いい)Said of a person who is flourishing: influential, powerful, popular, and prospering. This is the form used when you say someone is influential in this way; less common than 有力.
  彼女かのじょは昔むかし羽振はぶりが良よかったに違ちがいない。↗

  She must have been well-off in the past.
• 羽振りのいいはぶりのいい
  expression, i-adjective (よい/いい)The same idea as 羽振りがいい — a person who is influential, powerful, popular, and prospering — in the form used when the phrase modifies a noun. Less common than 有力.

Choose the common 有力 for the plain sense of influential, prominent, or leading; 「幅利き」 for a person of influence in a field; and 「羽振りがいい」 or 「羽振りのいい」 for someone flourishing, powerful, and popular.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 有力ゆうりょくinfluential
• 幅利きはばききinfluential
• 羽振りがいいはぶりがいいinfluential
• 羽振りのいいはぶりのいいinfluential