authority

noun

ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē How to pronounce authority (audio)
Definition of authoritynext
1
as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the leading authority on neural anatomy

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in government
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the sheriff had authority over the whole county

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3
as in influence
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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4
as in power
the right or means to command or control others by the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married

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5
as in reason
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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6
as in source
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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7
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun authority contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of authority are command, control, dominion, jurisdiction, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When is command a more appropriate choice than authority?

While the synonyms command and authority are close in meaning, command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When would control be a good substitute for authority?

The meanings of control and authority largely overlap; however, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When might dominion be a better fit than authority?

The words dominion and authority can be used in similar contexts, but dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When can jurisdiction be used instead of authority?

In some situations, the words jurisdiction and authority are roughly equivalent. However, jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can power take the place of authority?

The words power and authority are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When could sway be used to replace authority?

The synonyms sway and authority are sometimes interchangeable, but sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 authority After taking Robinson into custody, authorities played back the phone call that was made for him. —Jon Haworth, ABC News, 9 June 2025 No less of a spiritual authority than the late Pope Francis said there’s a place for pets in paradise. —John Blake, CNN Money, 8 June 2025 Speaking at a press briefing in 2022, Chen Lei, an inspector from Xinjiang’s Rural Revitalization Bureau, indicated that the authorities aimed to increase the number of workers moved to other parts of China by a third in 2023 to more than 38,000, according to a government report posted online. —David Pierson, New York Times, 29 May 2025 The foundations of human persuasion are well-documented, perhaps most famously by Dr. Robert Cialdini, who outlined principles like reciprocity, scarcity, authority, commitment and consistency, liking, and social proof. —Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
  1. expert
  2. government
  3. influence
  4. power
  5. reason
  6. source
  7. master
  8. rule
Noun
  • As an example, this leads to a greater understanding of signals and the integration of the communications expert into decision-making.
    — Bill Edwards, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • If ordering prepared or prepackaged tacos, opt for those with minimal amounts of sodium, preservatives and artificial ingredients, the experts advised.
    — Perri Ormont Blumberg, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • The federal government often picks up the entire bill in big disasters and most of it in smaller ones.
    — Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025
  • But Trump’s second term has upended the relationship between higher education and the federal government.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • In a city like New York, defined by its unmatched diversity across race, culture, and socioeconomic background, lasting change requires collaboration between institutions with different influence levers.
    — Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • An important early influence was an uncle, Paul Saville, an artist who also taught at a private school in Oxford.
    — Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • The power of trauma lies in its ability to diminish our sense of current safety and future stability.
    — Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Sandman With the power to control and transform into sand, Sandman (his real name is Flint Marko) is a tough opponent for Spidey and his friends.
    — Sarah Scott, Parents, 30 May 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • The public backlash is part of the reason that long-term institutional investors sent a letter to Tesla’s board in late May raising concerns about the company.
    — Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
  • The compulsion of doctors to write, then, may simply be an extension of the reason so many of us entered medicine—an implacable curiosity about how people tick.
    — Danielle Ofri, New Yorker, 7 June 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • The likely outcome will be more paperwork on imports and burdens on small businesses, with less scrutiny at the source of production.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 8 June 2025
  • As a bonus, this fast-growing ground cover provides food sources for pollinators.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • Another master’s artistry is on display and open to tours at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, located about two miles east of the museum on the other side of the park.
    — David Allan, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
  • Skills build on themselves, so children who don’t master kindergarten phonics or counting could remain behind in future grades.
    — Claire Cain Miller, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Definition of master
Noun
  • Though this deal brings some uniformity to the rules, states still have separate laws regarding how NIL can be doled out, which could lead to legal challenges.
    — Eddie Pells, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
  • These rules don’t target refineries or shipping ports.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Definition of rule

Browse Nearby Words

authorities
authority
authorization
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Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on authority

Nglish: Translation of authority for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about authority

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