the powers that be
idiom
: the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
Examples of the powers that be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Skarsgård stars as Kiritsis, a societal outcast who feels he’s been screwed over by the powers that be.
—
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Resurrection; however, the point is that the powers that be were willing to kill him off.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
This year, the powers that be mercifully decided to change the format, for the better.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Speaking to a room of about 175 Indiana Democrats down near French Lick over the weekend, Bayh spoke of standing up to the powers that be.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
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Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Resurrection; however, the point is that the powers that be were willing to kill him off.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
This year, the powers that be mercifully decided to change the format, for the better.
—Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Speaking to a room of about 175 Indiana Democrats down near French Lick over the weekend, Bayh spoke of standing up to the powers that be.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
Cite this Entry
“The powers that be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20powers%20that%20be. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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