authoritative
adjective
au·thor·i·ta·tive
ə-ˈthȯr-ə-ˌtā-tiv 
ȯ-,
-ˈthär-
1
: having, marked by, or proceeding from authority
authoritative church doctrines
an authoritative decision
an authoritative manner
2
: possessing recognized or evident authority : clearly accurate or knowledgeable
an authoritative critique
an authoritative source of information
authoritatively
adverb
authoritativeness
noun
Examples of authoritative in a Sentence
The book is an authoritative guide to the city's restaurants.
His manner is polite but authoritative.
She addressed the group with an authoritative voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.
—
Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
This fluency creates a dangerous illusion, as users assume accuracy because the output sounds authoritative.
—Robert Scott, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Showrunner Ben Thursby-Palmer was a calmly authoritative Brit with a prodigious understanding of live spectacle.
—Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
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Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
This fluency creates a dangerous illusion, as users assume accuracy because the output sounds authoritative.
—Robert Scott, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Showrunner Ben Thursby-Palmer was a calmly authoritative Brit with a prodigious understanding of live spectacle.
—Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
Cite this Entry
“Authoritative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritative. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
authoritative
adjective
au·thor·i·ta·tive
ə-ˈthär-ə-ˌtāt-iv
ȯ-,
-ˈthȯr-
: having or coming from authority
authoritatively
adverb
authoritativeness
noun
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