Synonyms of authorities

authorities

noun

plural of authority

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

• experts
• scholars
• adepts
• masters
• artists
• gurus
• specialists
• wizards
• virtuosos
• hands
• professionals
• consultants
• maestros
• proficients
• past masters
• connoisseurs
• hotshots
• enthusiasts
• cognoscenti
• mavens
• sharks
• aces
• geeks
• sharps
• dab hands
• fiends
• fans
• craftsmen
• pros
• meisters
• devotees
• addicts
• whizzes
• aficionados
• dabs
• crackerjacks
• hired guns
• buffs
• mistresses
• journeymen
• Renaissance men
• jacks-of-all-trades
• all-rounders

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amateurs
• nonexperts
• apprentices
• novices
• beginners
• neophytes
• laymen
• inexperts
• nonprofessionals
• dabblers
• dilettantes

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

• governments
• rules
• administrations
• governances
• regimes
• jurisdictions
• powers
• reigns
• regimens
• dictatorships
• sovereignties
• tyrannies
• leaderships
• regulations
• dominions
• managements
• oppressions
• dominations
• supremacies
• directions
• autocracies
• commands
• hegemonies
• sways
• supervisions
• subjugations
• superintendences
• masteries

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

• influences
• sways
• weights
• leverages
• credits
• ins
• importances
• juices
• pulls
• consequences
• clouts
• dominions
• sovereignties
• impacts
• dominances
• supremacies
• commands
• moments
• reigns
• scepters
• hefts
• eminences
• counterinfluences
• predominances
• impressions
• impresses
• imprints
• marks
• masteries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaknesses
• impotences
• impotencies

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

• powers
• dominions
• controls
• sways
• reigns
• jurisdictions
• reins
• arms
• commands
• clutches
• sovereignties
• grips
• influences
• privileges
• death grips
• managements
• voices
• dominances
• rights
• directions
• prerogatives
• holds
• weights
• masteries
• supremacies
• pulls
• predominances
• eminences
• clouts
• imperiums
• importances
• leverages
• moments

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaknesses
• impotences
• impotencies

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

• reasons
• motives
• subjects
• grounds
• accounts
• causes
• incentives
• considerations
• antecedents
• whys
• occasions
• stimuli
• wherefores
• impetuses
• inspirations
• instigations

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

• sources
• references
• quotations
• citations
• extracts
• excerpts
• footnotes
• cross-references
• notes
• captions

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of authorities

The then-44-year-old actor was sent to Reading Prison, a medium-security lockup, because authorities felt a minimum-security jail would have provided too easy access for reporters. — Mark Kennedy, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Abeyta left in his car before deputies arrived and surrendered to authorities the following day. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

State authorities are investigating whether three officers aboard the aircraft fired their weapons. — Arkansas Online, 11 Nov. 2026

Three people were killed and others were injured when a minivan hit a crowd of street vendors and pedestrians in North Hollywood on Tuesday evening, authorities said. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026

Priced at approximately $300,000 (£225,000), the aircraft has received approval from China’s civil aviation authorities for restricted operations following nearly a decade of development and testing. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026

Five people, including two children, were rescued this week in the South Pacific island nation of Kiribati after three months drifting at sea in a 20-foot skiff, authorities said. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

Officials said the report proved to be a hoax, and the airport resumed normal operations after authorities found no explosives on board. — Reuters, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

After authorities located the vehicle using license plate cameras, the Kansas City Police Department followed the vehicle with a helicopter. — ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026