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as in reason
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

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as in source
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

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun authority contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authority are command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When is command a more appropriate choice than authority?

While the synonyms command and authority are close in meaning, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for authority?

The meanings of control and authority largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When might dominion be a better fit than authority?

The words dominion and authority can be used in similar contexts, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When can jurisdiction be used instead of authority?

In some situations, the words jurisdiction and authority are roughly equivalent. However, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can power take the place of authority?

The words power and authority are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When could sway be used to replace authority?

The synonyms sway and authority are sometimes interchangeable, but sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of authority The company does not have the moral or constitutional authority to sell the genetic information of its customers. Moti Mizrahi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2025 Kari Lake, a senior adviser at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, said that the Trump administration had acted within its legal authority. Minho Kim, New York Times, 16 May 2025 An Ohio sheriff's deputy working on a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati was struck and killed Friday by a vehicle driven by the father of a teenager who was shot and killed by authorities a day earlier, police said. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 3 May 2025 The home of the Double-Double, once praised by late food authority Anthony Bourdain, has continued to expand beyond its California roots in recent years, opening stores in Colorado, Texas and Idaho. James Powel, USA Today, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
  • Only 20 experts out of the roughly 525 who did the work at USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance and its Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Relief are being hired by PRM, the source said.
    Jonathan Landay, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Food security experts say tens of thousands of cases are expected in the coming year.
    Mohammed Jahjouh, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Surfshark’s warrant canary page displays any present or past demands from government agencies.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
  • Today, government anxieties about historical discourse have resurfaced.
    Time, Time, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • Her style leans toward country and Americana with a wide array of rhythmic influences.
    Monica Hooper, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
  • The influence here, though, permeated into the clubhouse, its effect just as long lasting.
    Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • Expect this power shift to drive more M&A activity and deeper integrations between banks, fintech platforms, and lifestyle brands.
    Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • Both Melling and Skarsgard show an intimate understanding of how the power dynamic between their characters works, but what gives Pillion its kick is the friction sparked when Colin starts wanting more.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Noun
  • During these inspections, travelers may be questioned or their electronic devices looked through as a way to confirm their identity and reasons for being in the U.S.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • At that, Tesla is reportedly sitting on $200 million worth of unsold Cybertruck models that can’t seem to find buyers for reasons that include being involved in multiple recalls, with the latest involving body panels randomly falling off the vehicle.
    Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Despite the ransom payment, Joly did not want to give up his bargaining chip for his freedom, several sources previously told the Miami Herald.
    Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
  • During the speech, McLean mentioned uncertainty in federal funding sources while discussing affordability in Boise.
    Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Get The Recipe 02 of 10 Pineapple Cherry Dump Cake Some of Grandma’s recipes take a practiced hand in the kitchen to master, but old-school dump cake recipes are literally foolproof.
    Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 19 May 2025
  • Every art lover must visit The Louvre at least once in their lifetime not just to see Leonardo’s incredible Mona Lisa and the famous Venus de Milo but for the quieter galleries too in the Richelieu wing with works by masters like Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Israeli military rule would last nearly four decades, during which Hamas emerged as a splinter of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the 1980s, until a 2005 disengagement.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
  • Under current Department of Education rules, PSLF eligibility depends on working full-time for a qualifying employer, primarily government agencies or 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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