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
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Recent Examples of authorities
The Defense Production Act provides the president broad authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of national defense or emergencies.
—
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Railroad tracks in the area were closed as authorities investigated at the scene.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said late Thursday that authorities decided to take control of the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr after discussions with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain, after one of its engines failed.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Iranian authorities warned that a retaliatory response would be crushing.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Feb. 2026
Colt Gray surrendered to police and has admitted to the shooting, according to authorities.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Evidence showed that, on March 10, 2023, the New London Police Department received a report about a carjacking and notified nearby authorities about the incident, according to the DCJ.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Turkey arrests journalist on insult claim ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities on Friday formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of social media posts.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Railroad tracks in the area were closed as authorities investigated at the scene.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said late Thursday that authorities decided to take control of the Iranian vessel IRIS Bushehr after discussions with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain, after one of its engines failed.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Iranian authorities warned that a retaliatory response would be crushing.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 28 Feb. 2026
Colt Gray surrendered to police and has admitted to the shooting, according to authorities.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
Refugees at the border Pakistani authorities said that dozens of Afghan refugees in the Torkham border area had been relocated to safer places.
—Munir Ahmed, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
Evidence showed that, on March 10, 2023, the New London Police Department received a report about a carjacking and notified nearby authorities about the incident, according to the DCJ.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Turkey arrests journalist on insult claim ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkish authorities on Friday formally arrested investigative journalist Alican Uludag, charging him with insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a series of social media posts.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorities
Noun
-
But experts have long said that relying on military forces rather than investing in local policing threatens to worsen already grave security crises.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The annual Greater Cincinnati Home Expo brings together the most knowledgeable building experts in the community to give you the opportunity to ask them anything.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Impala Platinum has opened formal talks with Zimbabwe’s central bank and lined up meetings with both the South African and Zimbabwean governments to press for clarity on Harare’s export-earnings policy, its CEO told Semafor, escalating a commercial cash-flow dispute into bilateral negotiations.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Asia’s governments will have to stretch their budgets or risk unleashing an inflation shock as the deepening conflict in the Middle East pushes oil prices past $100 a barrel.—
Claire Jiao,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Iranian-American Sara Mardanbigi and husband Edgar Rico operate one of the best restaurants in Austin, with Persian influences showing up in the occasional dish and pop-up event.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
This work is my response to the Khmer body and its dance, one of the most significant influences on my practice.—
Li Qi,
Artforum,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Industrial heating powers everything from chemical production to large-scale manufacturing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Each one contains a fully rechargeable lithium-ion battery — the same type that powers phones, laptops and electric cars.—
Ryan Brennan
March 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And one of the reasons Nix wasn’t healthy was that the signal-caller had to pick up more slack in the run game once Dobbins was gone.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Mar. 2026
-
For similar reasons, many of the foundations and artists’ estates once considered the ultimate authorities (like the Keith Haring Foundation and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts) have ceased offering authentication services.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Noem and her chief adviser Corey Lewandowski -- who is reportedly also departing DHS -- both had a knack for lashing out, yelling and berating staff that crossed them, according to sources.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Currently, most data centers draw from the public grid rather than securing their own energy sources – a fact that many associate with sky-high electricity prices.—
Eric Schmidt,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The deeper question — and the one scholars keep returning to — is whether the women at the center of these stories are truly masters of their own fate, or whether even their rebellion is still being scripted by someone else.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
6 Mar. 2026
-
During the conference, the scholars are networking and attending sessions focused on student success and its role in economic mobility and community prosperity.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The race could revive a pandemic-era rivalry between Kiley and Pan, who tussled over vaccine and public health rules while serving in the state Legislature.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The gap helps explain why authorities are tightening FX rules even as exporters press for more predictable conversion mechanics.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Authorities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorities. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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