authoritative

au·thor·i·ta·tive | \ ə-ˈthȯr-ə-ˌtā-tiv

, ȯ-, -ˈthär- \

Definition of authoritative

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

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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 Since then, Trump has tweeted false claims numerous times, and Twitter has responded by placing a smaller label beneath those tweets noting that the content is disputed and linking to authoritative information. — Washington Post, "Tech companies brace for the long haul with Trump’s unrelenting attacks on election outcome," 11 Nov. 2020 This account will offer the most authoritative information about who wins the election, and about important down-ballot races through the country. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, "14 Twitter and Instagram accounts you should follow for election news," 4 Nov. 2020 McElfresh has proved to be pretty authoritative, but supportive of the man who spends most of his waking hours in gyms. — Scott Springer, The Enquirer, "Loveland coach Darnell Parker on cancer diagnosis: 'I refuse not to attack this thing'," 3 Nov. 2020 Combining images and words—where the words were the voices of the people portrayed and not the authoritative voice of the artist, curator, or editor—was a way of understanding documentary photography as a vehicle for a multiplicity of voices. — Valeria Luiselli, The New York Review of Books, "Things as They Are," 3 Nov. 2020 If that isn’t authoritative enough, perhaps a strong admonition from the State Patrol will do the trick. — Tim Harlow, Star Tribune, "It's the law in Minnesota: Clear snow from your car," 1 Nov. 2020 This is one of her most naturally authoritative performances. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Let Him Go’ review: Austere western pulp, energized by Kevin Costner, Diane Lane and Lesley Manville," 3 Nov. 2020 Americans desperately needed and wanted a leader of steadiness, sobriety, gravity, empathy, constancy, and cool, informed, authoritative competence to guide them in such a time. — Dan Mclaughlin, National Review, "I Was ‘Never Trump’ in 2016. I’m Still a Conservative. Here’s How I’m Voting," 2 Nov. 2020 Pittsburgh earned an authoritative win over the Cleveland Browns but showed some warts in a close win over the Tennessee Titans. — Mike Jones, USA TODAY, "Steelers deny Lamar Jackson, Ravens in crunch time to stay undefeated," 1 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'authoritative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.