AUTHORITIES Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

authorities

noun

plural of authority

as in experts

a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the leading authority on neural anatomy

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Relevance

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as in governments

lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the sheriff had authority over the whole county

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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

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as in powers

the right or means to command or control others by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married

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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

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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

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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 Alvarez’s arrest comes as federal authorities have dramatically expanded enforcement operations in the MacArthur Park area, carrying out gang sweeps, immigration operations and narcotics investigations that have frequently put Essayli at odds with city officials and advocacy groups. —

Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026 One member escaped and alerted authorities, prompting a rescue operation on May 23. —

CNN Money, 30 May 2026 In some communities distrust of outside authorities and aid organizations has led to attacks on treatment centers, while the outbreak’s spread through Ituri—a major commercial and migration hub—has heightened concerns about wider regional and international transmission. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026 Plus, in the absence of strong privacy regulations here in the US, there’s little authorities can do about the tracking except press lawmakers to take action, since tech companies are unlikely to do anything that will impact their bottom line. —

Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026 The fire, which rose to a 2-11 alarm, spread to two separate buildings, one to the north and another to the south, authorities said. —

Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026 The officer called someone to consult them about his case, likely federal authorities, as is standard in these sorts of traffic stops. —

Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 Canadian actor Stewart McLean's remains have been located, authorities announced Friday. —

Oliver Gettell, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026 Russian defense authorities stated that the exercises tested operational preparedness, command coordination, and rapid deployment procedures for both strategic and tactical forces. —

Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorities

Noun

Some experts put the total amount of federal and state COVID money that ended up in the hand of fraudsters at nearly $1 trillion.

— Las Vegas Review-Journal, Twin Cities, 7 June 2026
Past stowaway cases raise security concerns Situations like this one, while uncommon, sound alarms about lapses in aviation security, experts say.

— Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 7 June 2026