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

A couple in their late 70s gunned down their son-in-law in a California city park over the weekend, authorities said, and court documents showed the victim had been in a bitter custody dispute with their daughter. — Terry Chea, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026

However, authorities announced on Tuesday that the message was not connected to the case. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 30 Sep. 2026

The term received Beijing’s support in the last two annual government work reports, although authorities have warned of a bubble in the humanoid robot industry. — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026

The woman, who has not been identified, was found September 20 by the apartment’s landlord and alerted authorities after arriving at the scene to fix a leak, prosecutors say. — Alex Stambaugh, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2026

The Associated Press TALLINN, Estonia -- Estonian authorities said Tuesday that an arson attack carried out last month on a defense company that provides military vehicles to Ukraine was an act of sabotage commissioned by Russian security services. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026

Federal district courts and immigration courts operate under different legal authorities. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

When the United Nations Refugee Agency, which had heard about her case from a fellow prisoner’s husband, contacted Thai authorities to appeal for their release, she was let go, and allowed to stay in Thailand. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

The officer in the rammed SUV suffered minor injuries, authorities previously said. — Christina Hall, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2026