HOW TO BEWITCH YOUR READER WITH POWER WORDS

Emmanuel

Christophe used power words to scare the hell out of us.

I was around 10 years old when I heard, outside, someone in a fury; discreetly peeking through the window, I saw Christophe making his show. A skinny kid in a bony frame about my age. Christophe was the terror of the neighborhood.
This day, in front of the porch of my house, David, twice the size of Christophe, was in despair. He stood still, not from courage but from terror-stricken. David didn’t dare move, not even flinch

Christophe had won this fight without a fight.



He had a knack for conjuring up physical pain and instilling fear in our minds simply by using words. His verbal threats were terrifying. The phrasing of his sentences and his choice of words would have made Hannibal Lecter pale. He was an actor with the perfect script.

How did Christophe spread all that fear using only words? What was his secret?
He knew how to smash with his words, which was always astonishing.


Use Power Words to conjure up emotion in your reader

Power words are magic words. Power words create a peak emotional state that breeds curiosity.
How does that work in your text, article, or mini-story?
First, catch your readers’ attention emotionally with your title, embedded with one or two powerful words, which will arouse their curiosity.
Second, keep their curiosity running by sowing other power words throughout your text. 
Third, watch them devour your text, from one emotional peak to another, until the end.

Emotion is the key because humans work only through emotions; there is nothing else. If you know how to evoke emotion in people, you can make them do anything you want. That’s how marketing, media, politics, scammers, storytellers, and Christophe work.


What are Power Words?

Power words (also named powerful, strong, muscular, action, vivid, active, or persuasive words) are verbs, nouns, adjectives, or adverbs with a strong meaning. They are evocative; they arouse emotion and curiosity. Powerful words communicate and describe an action precisely.
These strong words grab the reader’s attention, ignite their imagination, and prompt them to visualize vividly. The reader is emotionally invested in your writing and then, wants to know more about it.
Powerful Words evoke EMOTION, and that is the most important.


Thus, using power words can stimulate desire, create urgency, inspire confidence, or evoke fear, anger, sadness, etc. They can push the readers to act by sharing, commenting, signing in, following, or buying your content.
Whether you want to stick your readers to your text and not lose them through another occupation, you must use those powerful words.


Where can I use Power Words?

Use them in situations:
Powerful words are used in any situation that demands persuasion and engagement.
Everyone uses power words: politics, media, storytellers, marketers, advertisers, sellers, bloggers, and you in your everyday communication.
They are used in various contexts, such as social media, professional applications, resumes, stories, personal development, magazines, or newspapers.

Use them in sentences:
– Use power words at the beginning of sentences to immediately capture the reader’s attention and interest, and encourage them to continue the reading.
Example: “A scrawny kid in a bony frame about my age, Christophe was the little terror in the neighborhood.
– Use them at the end of a sentence, to reinforce the idea of this sentence and to make your message more memorable, by leaving the reader with a powerful image, idea, or strong impression.
Example: “His verbal threats were terrifying.”
– Use power words within sentences before introducing an idea; they will highlight it, and reinforce the impact of the message. Powerful words add depth and emotion to the sentence.
Example: “He had a knack for conjuring up physical pain and instilling fear in us, simply by using words.


Where should I NOT use strong words?

Being words that evoke strong emotions, you won’t use them in situations that demand temperance, empathy, and emotional balance. In topics such as trauma, illness, grief, or counseling, you want to choose respectful and sensitive words, to avoid any emotional stress to your interlocutor.

That’s not a power word situation, the words “splendid or atrocious” are inappropriate.


You won’t use them in a context such as academic, legal, technical, or official writing that needs an objective point of view with no side taken. These contents must contain no confusion or misinterpretation about the legal validity of the information provided.

You won’t use them in crises or emergency communications such as natural disasters, public safety incidents, or medical emergencies, where we don’t want to exacerbate panic or anxiety but, on the contrary, maintain calm.


A list by categories

Thousands of words can be considered power words. You probably know most of them already, but there are too many to enumerate them all.
You can easily find plenty of examples of power words by asking your favorite ChatBot directly or using a synonym dictionary.
Here is a list by category to give you an idea. You can refer to this list based on the intended purpose: if you like to evoke joy, fear, or sadness. Create a sense of urgency, authority, or curiosity. Or to describe something or someone with intensity by using Sensory Words.

EMOTIONAL: Words that evoke strong emotions such as joy, sadness, fear, anger, excitement, or desire.

  • Joy:
    Love, loveable
    Joy, joyful, to enjoy
    Tender, tenderness
    Devotion, devoted
    Nurturing, to nurture
    Bliss, blissful
    Seduction, seductive
    To cherish
    Luck, lucky
    Ecstatic
    Triumph, triumphant
    Glorious
    Jubilant
  • Sadness:
    Tearful
    Heartbroken
    Grief-stricken
    Weepy
    Teary-eyed
    Sobbing, to sob
    Troubled, trouble
    Lovesick
    Austerity
    Hostile
    Resentful
    Envy, envious
    Shame
  • Fear:
    Banned
    Abuse, abusive
    Steal, plunder
    Pussyfoot
    Anxiety, anxious
    Despair
    Freaking out
    Horror
    Sabotage
    Failure, to fail
    Miserable
    Burning out
    Threat
  • Anger:
    Rage, raging
    Fury, furious
    Hatred, to hate
    Irritating
    Annoying
    Bitter
    To sulk
    Grumpy
    Tantrum
    Flare up
    Hysterics
    Panic
    Ruthless
  • Excitement:
    Thrilling
    Electrifying
    Exhilarating
    Enthralling
    Riveting
    Invigorating
    Euphoric
    Jubilant
    Enchanting
    Rousing
    Stimulating
    Uplifting
    Intense
  • Desir:
    Crave
    Longing
    Yearning
    Hunger
    Thirst
    Passion
    Lust
    Burning
    Covet
    Wanton
    Urge
    Itch
    Zeal
  • URGENCY: Words that evoke a sense of immediacy prompt action before it becomes too late.
    Critical
    Imperative
    Vital
    Paramount
    Exigent
    Compelling
    Dire
    Immediate
    Urgent
    Decisive
    Momentous
    Imminent
  • EXCLUSIVITY: Words that suggest rarity, prestige, and uniqueness that increase the perceived value.
    Rare
    Limited
    Unique
    Exclusive
    Premium
    Elite
    VIP
    Reserved
    Private
    Customized
    Prestigious
    Confidential
  • AUTHORITY: Words that convey expertise, credibility, leadership, trust, and confidence.
    Trustworthy
    Reliable, reliability
    Faith, faithful
    Admiration
    Proven
    Guaranteed
    Scientific, science
    Research-backed
    Facts, factual
    Absolutely
    Authoritative, Authority
    Saint
  • CURIOSITY: Words that entice the audience to learn more, that pique interest and curiosity.
    Fascinating
    Intriguing
    Mesmerizing
    Captivating
    Mystifying
    Enticing
    Challenging
    Enthralling
    Tempting
    Enigmatic
    Provocative
    Eliciting
    Bewitching
  • BENEFIT-DRIVEN: Words that highlight the benefits and advantages.
    Gainful
    Asset
    Plus
    Strength
    Superiority
    Bonus
    Rewarding
    Valuable
    Upside
    Merit
    Competitive
    Improvement
    Added value
    Win-win
  • ACTION ORIENTED: Words that encourage participation, engagement, action, and conversion.
    Implement
    Initiate
    Ignite
    Launch
    Trigger
    Enforce
    Embark
    Push
    Inspire
    Spark
    Galvanize
    Mobilize
    Encourage

SAFETY:  To make sure that a potential customer feels safe.

  • Shielded
    Sheltered
    Armored
    Lockdown
    Sealed

  • Walled
    Barricaded
    Monitored
    Risk-free
    Trustworthy
  • Foolproof
    Unbreakable
    Sturdy
    Resilient

SENSORY: Words that describe how we experience the world with our 5 senses.

  • Sense of sight:
    Dazzling
    Eye-catching
    Glow, glowing
    Shadowing
    Gloomy
    Luminous
    Radiant
    Picturesque
    Glittering
    Enchanting
    Gleam
    Evanescent
  • Sense of smell:
    Flagrant
    Musky
    Redolent
    Stinky
    Yummy
    Rotten
    Aromatic
    Pungent
    Bitter
    Stale
    Musty
  • Sense of hearing:
    Melodic
    Serene
    Deafening
    Buzz
    Squeaky
    Mellow
    Whispering
    Sizzling
    Rustling
    Purring
    Hushed
    Sibilant
    Murmuring
  • Sense of touch:
    Soft
    Caressing
    Silken
    Velvety
    Smooth
    Satin
    Feather-light
    Cushioned
    Plush
    Silky
    Soothing
    Padded
    Downy
    Barely-there
  • Sense of taste:
    Delicate
    Subtle
    Refined
    Gourmet
    Exquisite
    Savory
    Tantalizing
    Delectable
    Succulent
    Flavorful
    Scrumptious
    Luscious
    Mouthwatering
    Velvety


How can I use Power Words?

By using them sparingly:
Because using them excessively can dilute their impact and even scare away your reader. And we don’t want that.
Also, there is no need to use elaborate or obscure words. Just look for precision and choose specific words to best describe the situation. Use common powerful words.

By incorporating them strategically:

  • You ought to know what your specific objective is; telling a story, selling a product, mobilizing or inspiring people…
    Which emotion do you want to conjure up?
  • Who is your audience: readers, consumers, followers, men, women, teenagers…?
    You have to know your public.
  • What does your audience want? You have to empathize with your audience to understand what they’re looking for, what they like and dislike.
    What do they need, and what are their preferences?
  • What problem your readers are struggling with?
    And, how can your content or service help them?


How can I use Power Words in stories?

Using power words in storytelling enhances the emotional impact of your reader. By using specific words you help your reader envision your story, and empathize with your characters. You also can create a more intense and dramatic atmosphere.
But don’t think about them when you are in the flow of writing. The best time to concentrate on your word usage is when you finish your draft at the revising step.

I was around 10 years old when I heard, outside, someone yelling; discreetly watching through the window, I saw Christophe making his show. A small kid about my age. Christophe was the troublemaker of the neighborhood.
This day, in front of the door of my house, David, twice the size of Christophe, was in trouble. He stood still, not from courage but from fear. David didn’t dare move, not even a gesture.

I was around 10 years old when I heard, outside, someone in a fury; discreetly peeking through the window, I saw Christophe making his show. A skinny kid in a bony frame about my age. Christophe was the terror of the neighborhood.
This day, in front of the porch of my house, David, twice the size of Christophe, was in despair. He stood still, not from courage but from terror-stricken. David didn’t dare move, not even flinch

Overall, while both paragraphs convey similar events, the second paragraph creates a more intense and dramatic atmosphere, while the first paragraph presents the situation with slightly less intensity.


It also goog to know that the most important words are ‘Verbs’.
Verbs are the pivotal words in a story.
Using Strong Verbs helps you avoid redundancy in your sentences like when you combine a ‘weak’ verb + an adverb, trying to make a ‘strong’ impact.

Weak verb + adverbStrong verb
write poorlyscribble, scrawl, botch
think deeplycontemplate, reflect, ponder
run quicklysprint, bolt, dash
eat quicklydevour, gobble
These combinations of ‘weak’ words annoyed the reader.

The case is the same when you use nouns + ‘weak’ adjectives; by choosing powerful nouns, we avoid the combination of nouns plus adjectives.

Weak noun + adjectiveStrong noun
bad weatherstorm, hurricane, blizzard
big housemansion, estate, palace
pretty dressgown, ballgown, frock
good mealfeast, banquet, orgy, repast


Adverbs and adjectives should have their proper power in a sentence, independent of verbs and nouns.


Conclusion about Power Words

Using powerful words is essential to evoke emotion in your writing and bring energy, suspense, and enthusiasm. They are essential for engaging your readers in your story and capturing their attention and interest.

  • Capture Attention: Powerful words grab the reader’s attention and draw them into your story right away.
  • Evoke Emotions: Power words can evoke a wide range of emotions, from excitement and curiosity to fear and urgency, creating a strong emotional connection with your readers.
  • Action-oriented: Power words inspire your audience to prompt action by instilling a feeling of urgency, highlighting benefits, and building trust.
  • Benefit-driven: Strong words can make your arguments more persuasive by appealing to your audience’s emotions, values, and desires.
  • Increase Engagement: By adding intrigue and intensity to your writing, powerful words make your message more engaging, memorable, and impactful.
  • Enhance the pacing and rhythm of your story/article: by controlling its flow and pace, you will guide readers through the story and keep their interest from scene to scene. You will lead them through the narrative.

In conclusion, powerful words can be valuable assets when used thoughtfully and strategically to enhance your message, engage your audience, and make your readers dream.