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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The clinician-only teams do not have the authority to take anyone to the hospital against their will. —Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025 Gontareva herself is currently under investigation by Ukrainian authorities on suspicion of embezzlement and had previously been investigated on suspicions of helping Kurchenko launder illicit money. —Olena Loginova, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025 The process could take several days, authorities have said. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 After their 2002 trip, Cheryl and Shannon received no further contact from the Army CID or German authorities. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 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. effectiveness
  8. master
Noun
  • Another factor may be Japan’s demographic shift, experts say.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Philip Mann, an aviation expert and former Federal Aviation Administration training manager, said smaller airports not on the list could also see delays and cancelations.
    — Laura Layden, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • Besides government offices, many areas had been severely damaged by disrepair, and fires – easy to occur since most buildings were wooden structures.
    — Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Darbin Wofford, deputy director of health care for the centrist Democratic group Third Way, said even if there’s an agreement that reopens the government without a subsidy extension, Republicans already own the consequences.
    — Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • Power struggles in friendships or group settings could surface, especially if money, influence or loyalty is somehow involved.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His experiences here helped forge his passion for the outdoors and conservation, spurring him to use his presidential influence to establish the United States Forest Service, 150 national forests, and five national parks.
    — Karthika Gupta, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • How to prepare before strong winds approach Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The Maldives’ own India Out campaign—paradoxically led by Yameen after his electoral defeat to the pro-Indian politician Ibrahim Mohamed Solih—gained traction, casting India as a neo-imperial power.
    — MUHIB RAHMAN, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • Part of the reason why there are so few of these conversations about podcasting is a general lack of criticism for narrative audio.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • What's really behind the baby bust The reasons Americans choose not to have children are hotly debated in academic circles, with many attributing America’s baby bust to shifting priorities and societal norms.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • But for much of the past two centuries, Port Renfrew’s main source of employment was not promoting trees but rather chopping them down—particularly, giant, old-growth trees that fetched the highest value.
    — Brad Badelt, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
  • One of the things that particularly irked fans was a report after the trade that slammed Dončić’s conditioning, with ESPN citing sources inside the franchise revealing frustration with his diet.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • Figlio said the states and districts that have adopted those policies have done so without much evidence to support their effectiveness.
    — Silas Allen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Although auctions are a ubiquitous form of fundraising that vary in effectiveness depending on what’s crossing the block and who benefits, philanthropic bidding will be in overdrive at a single-lot event in Las Vegas on November 21.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2025
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Joining them were a who’s who of rock acts, playing for free, paying homage to the original masters of metal, the likes of Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Alice in Chains.
    — Stephen Rea, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
  • For him, that included college and a master’s degree.
    — Chris Dovi, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Definition of master

Browse Nearby Words

authorities
authority
authorization
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on authority

Nglish: Translation of authority for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about authority

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Putting Adjectives in the Right Order

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a pencil broken in half on top of a test answer sheet
Challenging Standardized Test Words, Vol. 2 No Number 2 pencil required.
See All