1
as in definitive
being the most accurate and apparently thorough
this book is considered the most authoritative source on that subject
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in influential
having power over the minds or behavior of others
after a couple of authoritative critics panned the movie, the other reviewers rushed to say how awful it was
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in authoritarian
fond of ordering people around
she's very authoritative for someone who doesn't actually outrank us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authoritative
Traditionally written as letters to Catholic bishops and the wider church, encyclicals offer authoritative guidance on major moral, social, or political questions and often shape Catholic thought for generations, even influencing debates that reach far beyond the Vatican.
—
Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
Showrunner Ben Thursby-Palmer was a calmly authoritative Brit with a prodigious understanding of live spectacle.
—Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Their notion of non-specific vaccine effects gained enough traction to merit a short chapter in the 2023 edition of Plotkin’s Vaccines, the authoritative text of vaccinology.
—Wired News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 26 May 2026
Every Tuesday, this new newsletter will deliver clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026
Showrunner Ben Thursby-Palmer was a calmly authoritative Brit with a prodigious understanding of live spectacle.
—Anna Peele, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Their notion of non-specific vaccine effects gained enough traction to merit a short chapter in the 2023 edition of Plotkin’s Vaccines, the authoritative text of vaccinology.
—Wired News, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for authoritative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritative
Adjective
-
Yet most shipping executives remain unwilling to send their cargo ships through the 21-mile channel until the United States and Iran strike a definitive peace agreement that includes the safe reopening of the strait.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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The comments about the April-to-June quarter, which benefited from blockbuster sports events like the Kentucky Derby and the NBA playoffs, are more definitive than those offered by NBCU parent Comcast earlier this spring.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Laura Loomer, an influential adviser to Trump, strongly opposes its closure.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
Trump remains popular among his core supporters and influential for most Republican lawmakers, yet developments over the past two weeks have called into question his sway in the Senate in particular.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
During the Cold War, the United States partnered with authoritarian regimes, such as Anastasio Somoza of Nicaragua and Mobutu Sese Seko in then-Zaire, to contain Soviet expansion, often generating backlash.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Will Mourinho take the more authoritarian approach he is expected to?—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
The National Public Radio affiliate and the University of Missouri-Kansas City announced on Tuesday that staff and broadcast operations for KCUR and Classical KC, the classical music station, would move to office space in the Country Club Plaza under a two-year lease starting June 15.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2026
-
Britell’s signature style combines classical training with modern hip-hop beats, which is perfect for the NBA — a brand that is both aiming to be relevant to modern watchers and acknowledge its legacy.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Among those acolytes is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a reedy, repressed young virgin who yearns to be part of the gay community but hasn’t the courage to come out to his domineering mother Christine (Elisabeth Wiener), who also just happens to be the country’s very right-wing health minister.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
Down at the bottom of the hierarchy, or really not ranked at all, is Lucien (Jérémy Gillet), a fey and cosseted twink of privilege who longs to meet Jim but is kept at home, safely away from anything gay, by his domineering mother.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Saban made several accurate and valuable points about the current direction of the sport and his issues with it.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
-
Once in position, the crews relay information about weather conditions and water patterns back to the command center in Philadelphia to develop a plan for the most accurate search.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The tension between the two boils over into a confrontation which only Eisenhower can adjudicate, a task complicated by his own arrogant British subordinate, a wiry and dislikable General Bernard Montgomery - played with a villainous verve bordering on the pantomime by Damian Lewis.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
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Public policy decisions always need to strive for middle ground, and those leadership decisions often referred to as arrogant can just as easily be called principled leadership.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
To operate safely in dynamic industrial settings, the robot is equipped with dual front-and-rear LiDAR systems and a comprehensive perception suite.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
2 June 2026
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Kenjura told Crain the police department was working on a comprehensive update to the city’s safety ordinances that will address concerns related to e-scooters and other mobility devices.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Authoritative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritative. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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