authority

noun

ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce authority (audio)
Definition of authoritynext
1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the leading authority on neural anatomy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in government
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the sheriff had authority over the whole county

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3
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health

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4
as in power
the right or means to command or control others by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married

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5
as in reason
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing I had good authority to believe that the information was correct

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6
as in source
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information the Bible is the sole authority for his impassioned defense of creationism

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7
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun authority contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authority are command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When is command a more appropriate choice than authority?

While the synonyms command and authority are close in meaning, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for authority?

The meanings of control and authority largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When might dominion be a better fit than authority?

The words dominion and authority can be used in similar contexts, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When can jurisdiction be used instead of authority?

In some situations, the words jurisdiction and authority are roughly equivalent. However, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can power take the place of authority?

The words power and authority are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When could sway be used to replace authority?

The synonyms sway and authority are sometimes interchangeable, but sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of authority Following the call, Moscow authorities began taking down an installation supporting Russia's war in Ukraine that have stood in front of the American embassy in Moscow since 2023. —Charles Maynes, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025 Vegas authorities were not connected to the earlier sessions, and were not required to honor any agreement that might have been made with Davis, according to interview recordings and transcripts reviewed by ABC. —Josh Margolin, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2025 Some Afghans who entered the country legally have already been detained by immigration authorities. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2025 While Ice remains in Gold Coast as the severe weather system approaches, authorities are urging residents to act immediately. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
  1. expert
  2. government
  3. influence
  4. power
  5. reason
  6. source
  7. master
  8. rule
Noun
  • Unlike consulting, where an expert provides recommendations, coaching ensures that leaders develop the capability to solve problems independently and sustain long-term growth.
    — Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Every tax article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax products.
    — Brian Sloan, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • That wasn’t caused by government—it wasn’t caused by Presidents.
    — David Remnick, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • As of this writing, tens of thousands of Americans in government roles have already been fired by Elon’s tech toadies.
    — Kara Swisher, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • The longer the conflict continues in its current trajectory, the more influence and land Russia will be able to amass from the overwhelmed Ukrainian military.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Critics of the Trump administration say its efforts to nullify the agency will cripple American influence overseas and carry devastating effects for some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, which relied on U.S. funding for health care, food, and other basic needs.
    — Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • This dispatchable energy from batteries stabilizes the U.S. power supply.
    — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The 9a has a standard set of controls, including a power/lock button, volume keys, a USB-C port, and a SIM card tray.
    — Iyaz Akhtar, PCMAG, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • Those types of metrics are part of the reason Knoblauch is advocating for Draisaitl to win the Selke Trophy to go along with a strong Hart case.
    — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The Fire were without standout striker Mallory Swanson, out for personal reasons.
    — Theo Lloyd-Hughes, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Rodents Mice and rats are highly allergenic and are common sources of asthma triggers through their saliva, urine, feces, and skin.
    — Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Production has yet to begin, but sources told Variety that White has been spending time in Thailand scoping out sites.
    — Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • Every master craftsman had their own tools – often specialized and always prized possessions handed down from generation to generation.
    — John Sviokla, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Raq is a master manipulator who claims to value loyalty above all else, especially from her henchmen brothers Marvin (London Brown) and Lou (Malcolm Mays) and her only son, yet constantly destabilizes the three of them with selfish mind games and power plays that genuinely harm them.
    — Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of master
Noun
  • But Senate rules require 60 votes to get balls rolling, and Republicans had just 52 yes votes in the Upper Chamber.
    — Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The House voted to repeal a Biden-era rule focused on decentralized finance, or DeFi, which refers to peer-to-peer financial services on the blockchain.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of rule

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Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on authority

Nglish: Translation of authority for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about authority

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