This is the 14029th most frequent Polish word.
potężnym
"Potężnym" means "mighty" or "powerful" in English.
The word 'potężnym' is used here as an adjective to describe the strength or size of the paddle in the instrumental case.
Mężczyzna z potężnym wiosłem zbliżał się do brzegu.
The man with a powerful paddle was approaching the shore.
The word 'potężnym' refers to the extreme force or impact of the hurricane, expressed in instrumental case to indicate the medium of influence.
Znajdowaliśmy się w obszarze pod wpływem potężnym huraganu.
We were in an area under the influence of a powerful hurricane.
In this sentence, 'potężnym' characterizes the hammer, emphasizing its effectiveness or magnitude in instrumental case, describing the tool used.