Synonym Chooser

How does the noun jurisdiction contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of jurisdiction are authority, command, control, dominion, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can authority take the place of jurisdiction?

The words authority and jurisdiction can be used in similar contexts, but authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When can command be used instead of jurisdiction?

The synonyms command and jurisdiction are sometimes interchangeable, but command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When might control be a better fit than jurisdiction?

In some situations, the words control and jurisdiction are roughly equivalent. However, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When is it sensible to use dominion instead of jurisdiction?

While the synonyms dominion and jurisdiction are close in meaning, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is power a more appropriate choice than jurisdiction?

While in some cases nearly identical to jurisdiction, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When would sway be a good substitute for jurisdiction?

Although the words sway and jurisdiction have much in common, 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 jurisdiction The material should not be provided to any person in a jurisdiction where its provision or use would be contrary to local laws, rules, or regulations. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025 Achieving these goals will require sustained collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors, with communities engaged as full partners in the process. Tony Cheng, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025 The courts quashed the administration’s efforts to withhold funding from noncompliant jurisdictions as a violation of the Constitution’s Tenth Amendment and other provisions. Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025 More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for jurisdiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jurisdiction
Noun
  • The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Republican lawmakers are upping the pressure on GOP leaders to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies set to expire at year’s end for those with Affordable Care Act coverage, bolstering similar demands from Democrats as part of government funding talks.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • All in all, Southern small talk rules are a fickle thing to follow.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Lawmakers in many states have changed the rules in recent decades to protect winners from being targeted by criminals and unscrupulous people asking for money.
    Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There does appear to be an air of optimism around although uncertainty still surrounds the fate of USA Cricket, offered a three-month lifeline by the International Cricket Council to address its governance issues.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The vote marked a public setback for Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer navigating the shift from movement politics to municipal governance.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When asked by a reporter for more details about how Trump planned to ban mail-in ballots, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration planned to work with Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
  • That project also received $3 billion of federal funding from the Biden administration.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jurisdiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jurisdiction. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on jurisdiction

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!