mäktigast

Mäktigast is the Swedish superlative form of the adjective mäktig, meaning "most powerful" or "mightiest." It is used to indicate the highest degree of power, strength, influence or intensity among a set of entities.

Grammatical usage follows common Swedish patterns: mäktig (positive), mäktigare (comparative) and mäktigast (superlative). Mäktigast is typically used predicatively without an article ("Han är mäktigast i riket" — "He is the most powerful in the kingdom"), while the attributive superlative before a noun commonly takes the weak form mäktigaste with a definite article ("den mäktigaste ledaren" — "the most powerful leader").

The word appears in political, historical and literary contexts to describe sovereigns, institutions, natural forces or abstract concepts. It carries a neutral descriptive tone but can imply judgment depending on context; for example, calling an office or person "mäktigast" may underscore dominance or authority.

Synonyms and near-synonyms include mest kraftfull, mest inflytelserik and mäktigaste (in attributive use). A literal English equivalent is "most powerful," while "mightiest" conveys a slightly more archaic or emphatic nuance.

Etymologically, mäktig is related to Germanic roots expressing power and capability; mäktigast is simply its regular superlative form in modern Swedish.