Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun potential

2 senses of potential

Sense 1
potential, potentiality, potency -- (the inherent capacity for coming into being)
       => possibility, possibleness -- (capability of existing or happening or being true; "there is a possibility that his sense of smell has been impaired")

Sense 2
electric potential, potential, potential difference, potential drop, voltage -- (the difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts)
       => electrical phenomenon -- (a physical phenomenon involving electricity)

Antonyms of adj potential

2 senses of potential

Sense 1
potential (vs. actual), possible -- (existing in possibility; "a potential problem"; "possible uses of nuclear power")

actual (vs. potential), existent -- (presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible; "the predicted temperature and the actual temperature were markedly different"; "actual and imagined conditions")
        => effective -- (existing in fact; not theoretical; real; "a decline in the effective demand"; "confused increased equipment and expenditure with the quantity of effective work done")

Sense 2
likely, potential -- (expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients")

INDIRECT (VIA prospective) -> retrospective -- (concerned with or related to the past; "retrospective self-justification")

Similarity of adj potential

2 senses of potential

Sense 1
potential (vs. actual), possible -- (existing in possibility; "a potential problem"; "possible uses of nuclear power")
       => latent -- (potentially existing but not presently evident or realized; "a latent fingerprint"; "latent talent")

Sense 2
likely, potential -- (expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients")
       => prospective (vs. retrospective) -- (of or concerned with or related to the future; "prospective earnings"; "a prospective mother"; "a prospective bride"; "the statute is solely prospective in operation")