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
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
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
In response, Mills argued that withholding federal funding would be unconstitutional, and framed the dispute as a larger conflict over the limits of presidential authority – which Trump has pushed in the first weeks of his second term.
—
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Over time, authorities have said, the Pirus’ brand of violence went beyond street fights, escalating to killing, robbery and drug dealing.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Bridgewater Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau is investigating the crash with Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, authorities said.
—Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
His younger sisters, ages 12 and 13, were too afraid to ever leave — as was the boy — because their mother had instructed them to never answer the door or go outside, authorities said.
—Gina Kaufman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Zoe Sottile, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Over time, authorities have said, the Pirus’ brand of violence went beyond street fights, escalating to killing, robbery and drug dealing.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Bridgewater Township Police Department's Traffic Safety Bureau is investigating the crash with Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, authorities said.
—Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
His younger sisters, ages 12 and 13, were too afraid to ever leave — as was the boy — because their mother had instructed them to never answer the door or go outside, authorities said.
—Gina Kaufman, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
-
Unlike consulting, where an expert provides recommendations, coaching ensures that leaders develop the capability to solve problems independently and sustain long-term growth.—
Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Every tax article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of tax products.—
Brian Sloan,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
He's also uprooted what the GOP has long decried as social engineering by liberals, reflected recently by programs known as DEI (for diversity, equity and inclusion) − now banned in the federal government.—
Susan Page,
USA TODAY,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Read More: World Leaders React to Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office Showdown If there are plans to cut defense spending Trump was asked about the Administration's plan to shrink the size of the federal government, a charge spearheaded by DOGE under the watchful eye of Musk.—
Rebecca Schneid,
TIME,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The rise in sushi’s popularity is intertwined with a Ukrainian trend toward eating what America and the rest of the West eats—a cosmopolitan way of looking at the world absent of Russian influence.—
Tim Mak,
Bon Appétit,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Composed of more than 100 works dating to the late 1800s, the show examines the cultural influence of the sport and its representation of power, struggle and activism.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That power is vested in prosecutors as executive branch officials.—
Michael Rothfeld,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The pair of turbines can generate up to 75 percent of the island’s power.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Here are key reasons why resilience is vital for outsourcing operations: Ensures Business Continuity: Resilient models enable uninterrupted services during unexpected disruptions through contingency planning and distributed backup capabilities.—
Mit Somaiya,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Mar. 2025
-
There is some reason to believe that this modularity is key to the brain's incredible flexibility.—
Tim Stevens,
Ars Technica,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
For revenue from conference media deals, the department’s biggest source of income, the Seminoles projected $44.4 million in 2024 and $49.9 million in 2025, followed by a large jump to $78.9 million in 2026.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Were any of your sources threatened for their participation?—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Every master craftsman had their own tools – often specialized and always prized possessions handed down from generation to generation.—
John Sviokla,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Raq is a master manipulator who claims to value loyalty above all else, especially from her henchmen brothers Marvin (London Brown) and Lou (Malcolm Mays) and her only son, yet constantly destabilizes the three of them with selfish mind games and power plays that genuinely harm them.—
Robyn Bahr,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Under a rule the Hall’s board of directors adopted in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall.—
Jay Cohen,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Under a rule adopted by the Hall's board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can't be considered for election to the Hall.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share