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 Why Trust Footwear News For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025 In both the case of the Nashville shooting and the Minneapolis attack, authorities have not shared any evidence indicating that the shooters’ respective gender identities drove their horrific actions. —Grace Byron, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025 Investigators found the man dead several yards away, authorities said. —Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025 Where grievances meet weak state capacity or entrenched corruption, young people are likely to continue challenging authority. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 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
  • Some states have instituted requirements for websites with adult or pornographic content to verify visitors' age before granting access, although tech experts have pointed out VPNs can be used to get around those guardrails.
    — Arpan Lobo, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The Asheville Citizen Times asked a public policy expert about the shutdown.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of expert
Noun
  • In the Gulf, governments and the private sector are creating new companies and financial instruments that open opportunities for investors in both debt and equity markets.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The threat to withhold back pay has angered federal employees, according to Axios which first reported on the memo, and prompted criticisms from both Republican and Democrat lawmakers who insist the government is legally obligated to compensate furloughed workers.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of government
Noun
  • The questions remain, however, as to the extent of such interest rate cuts amid more political influence.
    — Nick Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
  • China is turning climate action into industrial advantage, financial leverage, and geopolitical influence.
    — Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of influence
Noun
  • Hanke relates that it was riddled with loopholes that handed the Banco Central de la República Argentina discretionary monetary powers.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
  • ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of power
Noun
  • Voters also tend to lean more nationalist and conservative during economic downturns, said Hajime Kidera, a professor at Meiji University’s School of Political Science and Economics – which is one reason Abe was so popular during the post-recession early 2010s.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The executive branch does not normally use the shutdown as a reason for layoffs.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Definition of reason
Noun
  • Some workers, whose programs have alternative funding sources, continue to be paid on time.
    — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
Definition of source
Noun
  • There’s no denying the cost-effectiveness of investing in a high-quality luggage set, so this seasonal sale is the time to score the Coolife Luggage 4-piece Set while bags are only $34 apiece.
    — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Young children have to use spacers, holding chambers that allow the patient to breathe in the medication slowly so more of it reaches the lungs, and a spacer would hinder a dry-powder inhaler’s effectiveness.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Definition of effectiveness
Noun
  • Hearing about a shoe designer getting more attention than a professional athlete, Boyle remembered his own company’s involvement with a master of the craft.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025
  • This Levoit is down 30%, and a master of hair and fur removal.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Definition of master

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 9 Oct. 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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