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

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 authoritative Over the next years, however, as Swingle and others began publishing authoritative bulletins on the proper care, cultivation, and marketing of dates, the more dedicated growers began to manage a difficult and labor-intensive crop. Jacob Jones, JSTOR Daily, 13 Aug. 2025 The rulings are considered authoritative statements regarding questions of international law. Daimeon Shanks-Dumont, The Conversation, 1 Aug. 2025 Whether creating targeted blog posts, authoritative corporate content, persuasive e-commerce descriptions, or detailed educational resources, precise prompts enhance engagement, SEO performance, and monetization potential. Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 The decision means that in the authoritative opinion of the international legal community, all countries are under an obligation to contribute to the efforts to reduce global greenhouse emissions. Daimeon Shanks-Dumont, The Conversation, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authoritative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritative
Adjective
  • If all of this doesn’t fulfill your Born to Run 50 needs, Peter Ames Carlin — author of the definitive Springsteen biography Bruce — has just released Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 22 Aug. 2025
  • None of the coaches offered a definitive answer, but Brosmer attributes the skill — and it should be noted as such — to experience.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding those cultures is crucial if brands want to be more influential and persuasive.
    Tim Wragg, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • In 1925, only a year after Kafka’s untimely death at age forty, the first Spanish translation of his most famous story appeared anonymously in the influential cultural magazine Revista de Occidente under the title La metamorfosis.
    Mark Harman August 8, Literary Hub, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Stricter parenting styles include authoritative or authoritarian styles.
    ​Wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Aug. 2025
  • And this matters now more than ever, during a time when universities are dismantling their humanities programs and being pressured into pandering to authoritarian strongmen.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Access Contemporary Music presents a two-day classical music festival featuring works from all eras.
    Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Of the two, relaxing music like ambient jazz or classical music can temporarily lower blood pressure, as well as the heart and respiration rate.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Avoid being domineering, but also avoid being stepped on by someone else.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 25 July 2025
  • My Mom Died is a heartbreaking and hilarious recounting of McCurdy’s struggles as a former child actor while dealing with her overbearing, domineering mother.
    Charley Ross, Glamour, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025
  • What follows is an overview of more accurate sources of knowledge about admission.
    Brennan Barnard, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But this act of arrogant bullying should also re-kindle the spirit of hope and unity that swept through this community in the aftermath of that horrible night in 2016, that still binds Orlando in its 150th anniversary year.
    Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Harry Potter fans might recognize Stroma for playing the arrogant Hogwarts student named Cormac McLaggen in the film franchise.
    Olivia Singh, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than sending resumes alone, Alexander Executive Search provides a comprehensive candidate briefing pack.
    William Jones, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Roughly 30,000 records in the directory were explicitly marked as nongovernment, but this label was far from comprehensive.
    Pratheek Rebala, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authoritative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authoritative. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on authoritative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!