แรง

Explanation

The core image of แรง is force: energy that moves something or has a strong effect on someone or something. As a noun, it refers to personal strength or effort in expressions such as ไม่มีแรง, “to have no energy,” and ออกแรง, “to exert oneself.” In science, it denotes a physical force, as in แรงโน้มถ่วง, “gravity.” As an adjective, it normally follows the noun it describes. Thus ลมแรง means “strong wind,” กลิ่นแรง means “a strong smell,” and ยาแรง means “potent medicine.” The exact kind of intensity depends on the noun and the context. After a verb, แรง describes the force of an action, as in ดึงแรง, “pull hard.” The same idea extends figuratively to harsh speech, high prices, provocative content, and rapidly rising popularity.

Usage

In everyday conversation, แรง commonly appears when talking about fatigue, as in ไม่มีแรง; weather, as in ลมแรง and แดดแรง; and strong smells, tastes, medicine, or alcohol. In social situations, พูดแรง and คำพูดแรง describe harsh wording. ราคาแรง is common in shopping conversations and reviews, while กำลังมาแรง frequently appears in entertainment, news, advertising, and social media. In science and technical contexts, แรง is the standard noun used in names for different physical forces.

Caution

แรง is not a universal replacement for “strong.” A mentally resilient person may be เข้มแข็ง, someone strong at a sport or skill may be เก่ง, and a sturdy or powerful object may call for แข็งแรง or แข็งแกร่ง. พูดแรง usually means “speak harshly,” not “speak loudly.” Use พูดเสียงดัง for speaking in a loud voice. Be careful when applying แรง directly to a person, especially in expressions such as ผู้หญิงแรง. Depending on context, it can suggest that the person is aggressive, flashy, confrontational, or sexually uninhibited.

1 strength synonyms

• กำลัง

  kamlaŋ strength

  กำลัง can mean strength or physical capacity and also serves as a progressive marker. แรง focuses more directly on energy or force that is available or exerted.

• พลัง

  phalaŋ strength

  พลัง is a broader word for energy or power and is often more abstract. แรง is especially natural for everyday physical energy and exertion, as in ไม่มีแรง and ออกแรง.

3 strong synonyms

• รุนแรง

  รุนแรง commonly describes severe, violent, or damaging situations. แรง covers a wider range of everyday intensity, such as strong sunlight, wind, smells, or medicine.

• เข้ม

  khêm strong (in flavor)

  เข้ม describes concentration or depth, especially in flavors and colors. แรง emphasizes how strongly something affects the senses or the body.

4 forcefully synonyms

• อย่างรุนแรง

  อย่างรุนแรง means violently or severely and often accompanies accidents, conflict, or criticism. แรง after a verb is a shorter, everyday way to describe the physical force used in an action.

5 harsh synonyms

• ตรง

  troŋ straightforward

  ตรง means direct or straightforward and is not necessarily offensive. แรง suggests that the wording or expression hits hard and may upset or shock people.

6 pricey synonyms

• แพง

  phɛɛŋ expensive

  แพง is the standard, neutral word for expensive. ราคาแรง is more conversational and suggests that the price feels aggressive or higher than expected.

7 on the rise synonyms

• ฮิต

  hít popular

  ฮิต describes something that is already widely popular. มาแรง emphasizes momentum—something is currently rising fast and attracting attention.

• เป็นกระแส

  เป็นกระแส means that something is widely being talked about. มาแรง also highlights upward momentum in popularity, success, or attention.