Influence vs. Impact: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 28, 2023
Influence is the capacity to sway decisions or actions, while impact is the direct effect or outcome of an action or event.
Difference Between Influence and Impact
Influence typically describes the power or ability one has to indirectly sway or alter behaviors, actions, or outcomes. It can be subtle, long-term, and may not necessarily produce immediate tangible effects. Impact, on the other hand, refers to a direct effect or consequence of a specific event or action. It is often immediate and tangible, reflecting a change that has already taken place.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
While influence is about potential power and often operates behind the scenes, impact is about actual outcomes. For instance, a mentor's influence might guide a person's career choices over many years. However, the impact of a specific decision in that career, such as accepting a particular job offer, will have immediate and defined consequences.
Muazma Batool
Sep 26, 2023
Influence can come in various forms, such as personal charisma, authority, or through persuasive communication. It's about molding or guiding situations indirectly. Impact, conversely, is the result of an action, like the crater formed by a meteor strike. It's a visible, often measurable change, whether physical, emotional, or situational.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
It's worth noting that influence can lead to impact. A politician, through their influence, might promote a new law. Once this law is enacted and changes are observed in society, that's the impact. The distinction, then, is between potential power and actual outcome, between the intangible and the tangible.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Influence vs. Impact Comparison Chart
Definition
Power to sway decisions or actions
Direct effect or outcome of an action or event
Muazma Batool
Sep 26, 2023
Influence vs. Impact Definitions
◉Influence
The act or power of producing an effect indirectly.
The film had a profound influence on his thinking.
Kaitlyn
Sep 26, 2023
◉Impact
The action of one object hitting another.
The car's impact with the tree caused damage.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
A sway or control over actions or beliefs.
Cultural influences shape our preferences.
Henry
Sep 26, 2023
◉Impact
To have a strong effect on something or someone.
His speech made a deep impact on the audience.
Muazma Batool
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
A power affecting a person, thing, or course of events, especially one that operates without any direct or apparent effort
the pervasive influence that TV has on modern life.
young people falling under the influence of a radical philosopher.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
The forceful consequence of an action.
The asteroid had a massive impact on Earth.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
Power to sway or affect based on prestige, wealth, ability, or position
used her family's influence to get the job.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
A person who exerts such power
My parents considered my friend to be a bad influence on me.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
A determining factor believed by some to affect individual tendencies and characteristics understood to be caused by the positions of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
The effect or impression of one person or thing on another
still gauging the impact of automation on the lives of factory workers.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
Factors believed to be caused by the changing positions of the stars and planets in relation to their positions at the time of one's birth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
To have an influence on (something); change
a news report that influenced the outcome of the election.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
To change the behavior or thinking of (someone); sway
negative ads that are intended to influence voters.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
To have an effect or impact on
"No region ... has been more impacted by emerging ... economic trends" (Joel Kotkin).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
The power to affect, control or manipulate something or someone; the ability to change the development of fluctuating things such as conduct, thoughts or decisions.
I have absolutely no influence over him.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
An action exerted by a person or thing with such power on another to cause change.
I'm not able to exercise influence over him.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
A person or thing exerting such power or action.
He has been a great influence on the voters during the elections.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
The force or energy of a collision of two objects.
The hatchet cut the wood on impact.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
(astrology) An element believed to determine someone's character or individual tendencies, caused by the position of the stars and planets at the time of one's birth.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
A forced impinging.
His spine had an impingement; L4 and L5 made impact, which caused numbness in his leg.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
A significant or strong influence or effect.
His friend's opinion had an impact on his decision.
Our choice of concrete will have a tremendous impact on the building's mechanical performance.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
(transitive) To collide or strike, the act of impinging.
When the hammer impacts the nail, it bends.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
(transitive) To have an effect on by using gentle or subtle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to persuade or induce.
The politician wants to influence the public.
I must admit that this book influenced my outlook on life.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
(transitive) To compress; to compact; to press into something or pack together.
The footprints of birds do not impact the soil in the way those of dinosaurs do.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
To significantly or strongly influence or affect; to have an impact on.
I can make the changes, but it will impact the schedule.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
A flowing in or upon; influx.
God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which affects, modifies, or sways; as, the influence which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence, according to astrologers, of the stars over affairs.
Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects.
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
She said : "Ah, dearest lord! what evil starOn you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?"
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
To affect or influence, especially in a significant or undesirable manner; as, budget cuts impacted the entire research program; the fish populations were adversely impacted by pollution.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
Power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community.
Such influence hath your excellency.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
Contact or impression by touch; collision; forcible contact; force communicated.
The quarrel, by that impact driven.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to affect; to move; to persuade; to induce.
These experiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air, and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere.
This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend.
The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
The single instantaneous stroke of a body in motion against another either in motion or at rest.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc;
used her parents' influence to get the job
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
a forceful consequence; a strong effect;
the book had an important impact on my thinking
the book packs a wallop
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
a cognitive factor that tends to have an effect on what you do;
her wishes had a great influence on his thinking
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
influencing strongly;
they resented the impingement of American values on European culture
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
the effect of one thing (or person) on another;
the influence of mechanical action
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat;
the armies met in the shock of battle
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
one having power to influence another;
she was the most important influence in my life
he was a bad influence on the children
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
have and exert influence or effect;
The artist's work influenced the young painter
She worked on her friends to support the political candidate
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Influence
shape or influence; give direction to;
experience often determines ability
mold public opinion
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
An influence that changes a situation.
The new laws had a significant impact on small businesses.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
induce into action by using one's charm;
She charmed him into giving her all his money
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Impact
A marked effect or result.
The report outlined the environmental impacts of the project.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
Power to affect persons or events.
Her opinion has a strong influence on the team.
Muazma Batool
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
A person or thing with such power.
She is a major influence in the art world.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
◉Influence
Power derived from prestige, wealth, or position.
Politicians with influence can shape public policy.
Olivia
Sep 26, 2023
Influence vs. Impact Frequently Asked Questions
Can influence be seen immediately?
Not always, it can be subtle and long-term.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Does influence always result in an impact?
Not necessarily, though it can lead to outcomes.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
Can a person be described as an influence?
Yes, if they have the power to sway decisions or actions.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
What does influence typically refer to?
The power or ability to sway or alter behaviors, actions, or outcomes.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 26, 2023
How does impact differ from influence?
Impact refers to a direct effect or consequence of an event or action.
Muazma Batool
Sep 26, 2023
Is the result of impact always tangible?
Often yes, as it reflects a clear and measurable change.
Leo
Sep 26, 2023
Can impact refer to the action of one object colliding with another?
Yes, like a car's impact with a wall.
Jonathan
Sep 26, 2023
In what scenarios is influence more subtle than impact?
When it operates behind the scenes, shaping decisions over a longer period.
Nolan
Sep 26, 2023
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Muneeza RehmanAt Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
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Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
