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
Namely, that the world is full of structural injustice so deeply entrenched that a single protagonist cannot effect lasting and meaningful change against the powers that be.
—
Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
That single is just a taste of the sophisticated bars Thomas flexes on their record, MX, both a series of pointed critiques of the powers that be and an all-around impressive sophomore record from the nonbinary emcee.
—James Factora, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
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Nathaniel Moore
september 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
That single is just a taste of the sophisticated bars Thomas flexes on their record, MX, both a series of pointed critiques of the powers that be and an all-around impressive sophomore record from the nonbinary emcee.
—James Factora, Them., 3 Sep. 2025
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
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 18 Sep. 2025.
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