1
as in expert
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 government
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 influence
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 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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authority
When the poacher's trip had badly injured Jacob during the pandemic, wildlife veterinarians, conservation groups and park authorities worked together to save his life.
—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The Constitution provides that states have the primary control and authority over how elections and voting are conducted.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Information about any suspects or the victims of gunfire has not been released by authorities.
—
Rebecca Hyman,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
Lexington Police Department Moore’s body was found Wednesday afternoon near a gym that she was seen leaving on June 11 in Lexington, a city of roughly 23,000 west of Columbia, authorities said.
—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for authority
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
The Constitution provides that states have the primary control and authority over how elections and voting are conducted.
—
Letters To The Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2026
Information about any suspects or the victims of gunfire has not been released by authorities.
—
Rebecca Hyman,
USA Today,
27 June 2026
Lexington Police Department Moore’s body was found Wednesday afternoon near a gym that she was seen leaving on June 11 in Lexington, a city of roughly 23,000 west of Columbia, authorities said.
—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
20 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
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Legislative expert and law professor Chris Micheli said lawmakers frequently include controversial provisions in bills during the early stages of the legislative process.
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Given the significance of the peace deal, experts said Pakistan will certainly want to leverage its mediation role for economic benefit, particularly in its dealings with allies in Washington and the Gulf.
Noun
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Rahman also filed a claim against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act in April.
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While governments face pressure to invest in adaptation measures, from cooling centers to heat-resilient infrastructure, experts warn that such steps risk addressing the symptoms rather than the cause.
Noun
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Conservative critics seized upon those allegations, accusing Hosseini of exerting outsized influence over UF’s presidential search process and questioning whether trustees had exercised independent judgment in selecting Bell.
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The democratic socialist mayor expanded his influence over the Democratic Party, going three for three in congressional primaries.
Noun
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To put these figures in perspective, the entire city of San Francisco consumes about 1 gigawatt of power.
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The Hermosa Beach Pier closed Sunday morning after a truck collided with nearby power lines.
Noun
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There are good reasons to do so again, though as contenders acquiring young talent is not a necessity for the Pacers.
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However, Gen Zers also cited reasons for not finding such meaning.
Noun
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Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency cited a military source as saying today that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy has not issued permission for any vessels to transit until further notice.
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The agent can tell the planner where the source data came from, which parameters the calculation was based on, the decision-tree logic, and, for the mathematically minded, even the formula.
Noun
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As electronic warfare capabilities continue to proliferate, maintaining navigation and mission effectiveness without constant access to satellite signals has become increasingly important.
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There may be an issue with how the pills dissolve, which could impact their effectiveness.
Noun
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Owing to lengthy maturation cycles, these inaugural releases are rums influenced by the craft and stewardship of three generations of Mount Gay master blenders.
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But according to master distiller Brent Elliott, this cask finishing project started well before either of those things were a reality.
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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