authorized 1 of 2

adjective

ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīzd How to pronounce authorized (audio)
Definition of authorizednext
as in official
ordered or allowed by those in authority an authorized biography of the former president

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

authorized

2 of 2

verb

past tense of authorize
1
as in enabled
to give official or legal power to only the school nurse is authorized to give any necessary shots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entitled
to give a right to this pass will authorize you to go backstage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in approved
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory a system for sound reproduction that has been authorized as meeting the electronic industry's highest standards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 authorized
Adjective
Small piles of dirt, work going on at night and no permission signs for authorized excavations tipped off officials, according to a spokesperson for the Carabinieri Art Police, a specialized unit dedicated to stopping the theft of Italy’s vast historical treasures. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 Elsewhen, which arrives in stores June 23 from Abrams ComicArts, is not exactly an authorized Marvel title, however. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026
Verb
There was no immediate explanation for the ships that turned back on Friday and Saturday, though Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only transit the strait through the route designated and authorized by the Islamic Republic. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 Taylor Swift has authorized quite a few documentaries about her career. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for authorized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorized
  1. official
  2. enabled
  3. entitled
  4. approved
  5. empowered
  6. qualified
  7. ratified
  8. licensed
Adjective
  • While Walmart isn’t an official sponsor of the World Cup, either, taking advantage of the social media chatter helps the company glom onto the tournament without paying FIFA for the privilege – especially when attention spans are divided.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • If your cart is looking a bit neglected, consider this your official excuse to treat yourself.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of official
Verb
  • Shortstop Miguel Rojas, who botched a grounder to his left earlier in the inning that enabled a run to score, was late breaking to cover third, leaving the bag wide open.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The research insights enabled Microsoft to evolve its narratives and solutions in ways that resonated more authentically with how people actually live and work.
    — Tim Wragg, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of enabled
Verb
  • Every child is entitled to a public education in this country, Nakassis said, and special education is a response to the fact that some children have differences that require additional support.
    — Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Every child is entitled to a public education in this country, Nakassis said, and special education is a response to the fact that some children have differences that require additional support.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of entitled
Verb
  • It was approved by the City Council in January 2024, after some back-and-forth, as part of a new use agreement that gives the foundation access 50 days a year and allows the city the remainder of the scheduling.
    — Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
  • After 16 days in detention, the government had approved the petition for Wilber’s release.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of approved
Verb
  • Khamenei empowered the Revolutionary Guard in his decades in power to become the top military, political and economic force in the country.
    — Babak Dehghanpisheh, NBC news, 3 July 2026
  • But right now, what the president has said is, 'Go and make a deal, go and negotiate in good faith,' and that's what he's empowered us to do.
    — July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of empowered
Verb
  • One of his daughters, Marcye Scott, is among the four Democrats who qualified for this 13th Congressional District race.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
  • The ombudsmen point to impossible care burdens that cause burnout, irregular schedules, lack of training and the difficulty of taking care of seniors who, in previous decades, would have qualified for hospital care.
    — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
Definition of qualified
Verb
  • On June 18, Cuba's leaders unveiled a plan, not yet ratified by its parliament, ​with more than 170 sweeping measures that would ​privatize a vast swath ⁠of its socialist economy − reforms Rodríguez Castro used his clout to push through.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • China ratified the protocols in 1987, pledging not to test nuclear weapons within the zone or threaten to use them against signatories with territory in the region.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Definition of ratified
Verb
  • Those machines need to be licensed and insured and on the street with the cars.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • The company offered a line of NFL licensed collectible products.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of licensed

Browse Nearby Words

authorize
authorized
authorizes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authorized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorized. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on authorized

Nglish: Translation of authorized for Spanish Speakers

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
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
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All