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
There’s a casual, authoritative swing to their performance that belies the stylistic range on the record; the songs touch upon different traditions, yet all sound of a piece.
—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
The report comes from the authoritative WhatsApp watcher, WABetaInfo, which cautions that the new features are not quite live yet, but are on the way.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
From the Middle East to Latin America, ordinary people are turning to USDT to hide and preserve their wealth from authoritative regimes and shield themselves against hyperinflation.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
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Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 26 Jan. 2026
Washington delivers the dialogue with a thrilling range from purrs to roars, all imbued with an authoritative swagger.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
The report comes from the authoritative WhatsApp watcher, WABetaInfo, which cautions that the new features are not quite live yet, but are on the way.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
From the Middle East to Latin America, ordinary people are turning to USDT to hide and preserve their wealth from authoritative regimes and shield themselves against hyperinflation.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 19 Jan. 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 28 Jan. 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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