with authority
idiom
: with the confident quality of someone who knows a lot about something or who is respected or obeyed by other people
She spoke with authority about the history of the building.
Examples of with authority in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The City Plan Commission is a recommendation body for the Dallas City Council, and a quasi-judicial body with authority to make zoning decisions.
—
Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Power struggles with authority figures or abrupt changes in direction can feel destabilizing, especially when recognition feels inconsistent.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Hasn’t every person with authority promised repeatedly that victims have nothing to worry about because our names will be redacted?
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Talton walked The Republic newsroom with authority and savoir faire.
—Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for with authority
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Power struggles with authority figures or abrupt changes in direction can feel destabilizing, especially when recognition feels inconsistent.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
Hasn’t every person with authority promised repeatedly that victims have nothing to worry about because our names will be redacted?
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026
Talton walked The Republic newsroom with authority and savoir faire.
—Richard Ruelas, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for with authority
Cite this Entry
“With authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/with%20authority. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
