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 The administration argued the removals stemmed from sensitive negotiations with El Salvador, placing them firmly within the president’s diplomatic authority. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 30 Mar. 2025 Thai authorities said the quake and aftershocks were felt in most of the country's provinces. —Arkansas Online, 30 Mar. 2025 Khalilzad had been in the Afghan capital earlier this month on a rare visit by U.S. officials to meet Taliban authorities, accompanying U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler. —CBS News, 29 Mar. 2025 In 1992, Congress passed a law requiring the government to release all of its records about the assassination by October 2017, while giving the president the authority to withhold records for national security reasons. —Stefan Becket, CBS News, 18 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
  • Self-love and relationship expert Iryna Wood is redefining romance with an innovative mobile app that puts emotional awareness at the forefront.
    — Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Image Some cliff-side areas that are prone to landslides will remain off limits until May 15 as earthquake experts seek ways to minimize risk, Mayor Nikos Zorzos told reporters at the launch of the island’s tourism campaign at the Acropolis Museum in Athens on Tuesday.
    — Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • The junta’s sluggish response to the 2008 cyclone ramped up scrutiny of the military government at the time and placed pressure on it to change, eventually leading to the rise of a civilian government, albeit short-lived.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
  • For example, many schools and institutions welcome lawyers to serve as guest lecturers in government and civics courses.
    — Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • That economic footprint is matched by political and organizational influence.
    — Ronak D. Desai, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • When a 1999 Top 100 list by a gay and lesbian publishing group failed to include Patricia Nell-Warren’s 1974 novel The Front Runner, many readers loudly objected, noting its influence on their own coming-out journeys.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Natural gas has the opportunity to compete with coal, diesel, and other inefficient power sources across the globe, delivering cleaner and cheaper power.
    — Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The electric motors of the new limousine provide ample power with smooth delivery.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • The military has a nonpartisan tradition for a reason.
    — Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025
  • For that reason, testing in the privacy of one’s home can be an appealing option — and may help expand screening, Dr. Burstein said.
    — Catherine Pearson, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Constructed from Alexander Graham Bell’s simple tetrahedron cell, the Cygnet model consists of two equilateral paper triangles, connected and illuminated by a hidden light source.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Legendary is eyeing a 2026 production start, another source adds.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • What makes a painting by a master so much better than a really good fake?
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Degree requirement: bachelor’s degree in information technology, engineering, computer science or business management; preference for MBA or a master’s degree in technology management.
    — Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of master
Noun
  • Dunne’s Back-Pay Argument Dunne committed to LSU in 2017, four years before the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Interim rules went into effect.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the low traffic zone rules are already in effect and will continue to roll out over the next five years.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of rule

Browse Nearby Words

authorities
authority
authorization
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Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 13 Apr. 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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