1
as in experts
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
the leading authority on neural anatomy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in governments
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)
the sheriff had authority over the whole county
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in influences
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in powers
the right or means to command or control others
by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in reasons
something (as a belief) that serves as the basis for another thing
I had good authority to believe that the information was correct
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in sources
something mentioned in a text as providing related and especially supporting information
the Bible is the sole authority for his impassioned defense of creationism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authorities
Iranian authorities warned that a retaliatory response would be crushing.
—
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Feb. 2026
Colt Gray surrendered to police and has admitted to the shooting, according to authorities.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Nearly 35 years later, family and authorities are opening up about the impact of the notorious 1991 cold case after it was finally solved.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Evidence showed that, on March 10, 2023, the New London Police Department received a report about a carjacking and notified nearby authorities about the incident, according to the DCJ.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Turkey arrests journalist on insult claim ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities on Friday formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of social media posts.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Wood suffered two gunshot wounds to the head but regained consciousness and called authorities for help.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos also told NBC News this week that authorities have DNA that could potentially belong to the suspect.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Feb. 2026
Colt Gray surrendered to police and has admitted to the shooting, according to authorities.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Nearly 35 years later, family and authorities are opening up about the impact of the notorious 1991 cold case after it was finally solved.
—Claire Lempert, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Evidence showed that, on March 10, 2023, the New London Police Department received a report about a carjacking and notified nearby authorities about the incident, according to the DCJ.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Turkey arrests journalist on insult claim ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities on Friday formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of social media posts.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Wood suffered two gunshot wounds to the head but regained consciousness and called authorities for help.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos also told NBC News this week that authorities have DNA that could potentially belong to the suspect.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorities
Noun
-
The app's in-house trail experts have put together interactive maps of their top destinations of 2026.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Almost none of the ringside experts gave the Louisville Lip a snowball’s chance in August at Miami’s South Beach beforehand.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With many travelers stranded because of the airspace closures, multiple governments are reportedly discussing options to get them home, including repatriation flights.—
Karla Cripps,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The bill contains provisions encouraging local and state governments to build more housing.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Grey Orchard Modern American cuisine with Asian influences.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
-
But the show finds a unique voice fast, revealing a sense of humor that is gentler than that of its influences and unusually nuanced in its take on suburban secrets.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mastering nuclear technology therefore isn’t merely a technical achievement but proof of Iran’s sovereignty and advancement to the level of global powers.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Afghanistan's Taliban government, on the other hand, remains largely unrecognized by the international community and thus lacks formal diplomatic ties with major Western powers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Goldman Sachs cited a durable competitive moat and strong same-store sales growth as reasons to turn more bullish on Dutch Bros.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
-
For similar reasons, the ULPs against the NCAA, USC and UCLA were also pulled, effectively abandoning what had appeared to be a viable administrative pathway to securing employee status for college athletes.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Interim executive director David White, former NFLPA president and eventual chief strategy officer JC Tretter and American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti are on the list, two sources briefed on the matter confirmed to The Athletic.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
According to two sources, the US military is preparing for operations that could continue for several days.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As late as the 1930s, scholars would misidentify the porcelain as produced by other dynasties.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The last measure is an apparent reference to Homeland Security’s stance that administrative warrants are sufficient for agents to gain access to private properties— a move constitutional scholars, immigration experts and a federal judge say is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The assembly may interpret the rules to exclude reformist clerics who favor greater social freedoms and engagement with the outside world.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Some users have voiced anger at how the situation was handled, claiming that either Kalshi’s rules should have been communicated more clearly, or that its markets should have been more narrowly worded to avoid confusion.—
Terrence O'Brien,
The Verge,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Authorities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorities. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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