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
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 authorities
Though authorities declined to release additional video from that evening, the department did share dispatch audio of the welfare check.
—
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
The three other victims were taken to the hospital by private vehicle and later released, according to authorities.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
But while Beirut had taken significant steps to assert its control over southern Lebanon before the war, authorities have been unwilling to risk a civil war by fully confronting the heavily armed group.
—Abby Sewell, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The fraud allegedly occurred between January 2022 and November 2024 and was discovered after investigators spoke to 27 of Cano’s 134 Medicaid patients, authorities said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
French authorities rescued 38 others from the waters.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The following month, Hungarian authorities impounded a convoy of vehicles from Ukraine’s state bank that was transiting the country.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Neither the university nor the Chinese authorities have publicly identified the researcher, but the South China Morning Post newspaper in Hong Kong reported that the man who died was Wang Danhao, a Chinese semiconductor researcher.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Iraqi authorities are continuing the search for American journalist Shelly Kittleson who was kidnapped March 31 on a busy street in central Baghdad, Reuters reported.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
The three other victims were taken to the hospital by private vehicle and later released, according to authorities.
—Doug Myers, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
But while Beirut had taken significant steps to assert its control over southern Lebanon before the war, authorities have been unwilling to risk a civil war by fully confronting the heavily armed group.
—Abby Sewell, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
The fraud allegedly occurred between January 2022 and November 2024 and was discovered after investigators spoke to 27 of Cano’s 134 Medicaid patients, authorities said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026
French authorities rescued 38 others from the waters.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
The following month, Hungarian authorities impounded a convoy of vehicles from Ukraine’s state bank that was transiting the country.
—Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026
Neither the university nor the Chinese authorities have publicly identified the researcher, but the South China Morning Post newspaper in Hong Kong reported that the man who died was Wang Danhao, a Chinese semiconductor researcher.
—Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 10 Apr. 2026
Iraqi authorities are continuing the search for American journalist Shelly Kittleson who was kidnapped March 31 on a busy street in central Baghdad, Reuters reported.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorities
Noun
-
Child welfare experts say such a history would typically raise serious concerns in placement decisions.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
But nutrition experts say the right snack before bed can actually do more than take the edge off.—
Lynn Andriani,
Martha Stewart,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the mid-eighties, McMahon broke the code by lobbying state governments to instead treat it as theatre.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This case was brought on by state and federal governments, so the consumer won’t get paid by Live Nation.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Your life story, your influences, that's unique.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
May 21 – June 20 Fresh influences could be arriving from your wider circles.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Concerns abound, then, that Mythos falls into the wrong hands—only for corporate chiefs and government officials to find themselves on the receiving end of its powers.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Its internal heat powers our solar system’s fastest winds, measured at an incredible 2,200 kilometers per hour—faster than the speed of sound.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to the restricted access to the villages, Adraee warned against moving south of another 21 villages in the area for safety reasons.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Overall, the reasons for the decline are still debated.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On average, the study participants consumed about 41% of their daily food from ultraprocessed sources.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The fees help preserve the city’s general fund budget without having to cover the full cost of its maintenance from other sources.—
Henry Foster Iii,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As one of the nation’s most consequential legal thinkers and scholars, Heather Gerken has long directed her fierce intellect toward defending free and fair elections, a strong civic architecture, and the rule of law.—
Elizabeth Alexander,
Time,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Legal scholars hinge that false opinion on their false understanding of grammar.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Across the country, retailers and low-income Americans are facing complex new rules overhauling what millions of people can buy with food stamps.—
Rachel Roubein,
Washington Post,
20 Apr. 2026
-
One can see why wrestling appealed to him—the crowd is everything, the rules mean nothing, and the referees are so feckless that they often get knocked out and everyone laughs.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Authorities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorities. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
