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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Cox, the Utah governor, confirmed on Friday morning that authorities had captured Robinson, the southern Utah resident accused of killing Kirk, ending speculation and bringing a close to the tense manhunt. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025 Robinson was arrested after being reported to authorities by a family member. —James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 Robinson attended Utah State University for one semester in 2021, according to authorities. —Michael Ruiz , Peter D'abrosca , Julia Bonavita , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , David Spunt , Cb Cotton, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 The site about 12 miles west of Chicago has become the focus of local protesters looking to slow down immigration authorities’ efforts to remove immigrants from the state. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 12 Sep. 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. effectiveness
  8. master
Noun
  • Multiple rights experts and scholars say Israel's military assault on Gaza amounts to genocide.
    — Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Bond yields are shaped in part by expectations of the benchmark interest rate set by the Fed, some experts said.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
    — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Republican lawmakers are upping the pressure on GOP leaders to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies set to expire at year’s end for those with Affordable Care Act coverage, bolstering similar demands from Democrats as part of government funding talks.
    — Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • By the mid-1930s, however, Husseini’s influence was dimming.
    — Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Fall’s fashion trends mark a return to classicism, with influences from academia and the English countryside, and few pieces capture the mood as effortlessly as blazers.
    — Kristina Rutkowski, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.
    — Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, global demand for data center capacity could more than triple by 2030, requiring upgrades in power, cooling, and connectivity.
    — Maurice Obeid, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • In many cases, the two reasons amount to the same thing, with the same cause.
    — Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The second reason is that these aura battler designs were very complex and full of curves as well as weird angles.
    — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • That's part of the 'framework' agreement for TikTok, which will also include new and existing investors in its Chinese parent company ByteDance, sources told CNBC's David Faber.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
  • As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.
    — Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • Element Human, which uses behavioral AI to measure creative effectiveness, analyzed a recent Jake collaboration with creator Daniel LaBelle.
    — Jamie Gutfreund, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Injection wells could also help reduce Arizona’s carbon footprint through carbon capture, though some scientists question that technology’s effectiveness.
    — Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Brown's former master distiller left his job at a grocery store and returned to bourbon making for a few months each year during the final chapter of Prohibition.
    — Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025
  • These roles typically require a master’s degree but offer starting salaries in the $50,000-$70,000 range with significant growth potential.
    — Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 16 Sep. 2025
Definition of master

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 18 Sep. 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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