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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

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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

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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

Examples 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 2024, federal authorities said Kante violated the terms of his supervised release. Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025 However, authorities have not said that these two incidents are connected. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025 The group, which traveled aboard a U.S. Air Force aircraft, was greeted at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport by Haitian authorities including the head of the Presidential Transitional Council, Leslie Voltaire, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and police chief Rameau Normil. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 Jan. 2025 The Daily Mail and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser also have identified two women — who authorities say both died at the scene — as sisters. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for authority 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
  • So, the fire chiefs have asked the federal government and arson experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to come in and help local investigators.
    Dua Anjum, Rolling Stone, 22 Jan. 2025
  • But experts say detection software can misidentify writing as AI-generated.
    Rachel Hale, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Much of the Biden EO is already implemented across federal agencies, but a requirement for developers of the most advanced AI models to share the results of safety testing with the government is now gone.
    Maria Curi, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Overhauling federal bureaucracy Trump has halted federal government hires, excepting the military and other parts of government that went unnamed.
    Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Despite these denials, the alliance between the two nations is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to Western influence in the region and beyond.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • With America’s population shifting to the South, political influence is seeping from reliably Democratic states to areas controlled by Republicans.
    Jonathan J. Cooper and Kevin S. Vineys, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that it may be forced to cut off power supply—with outages potentially lasting as long as 48 hours—in certain areas as a safety measure to prevent wildfires while the Red Flag Warning remained in effect.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president's extraordinary constitutional power.
    WILL WEISSERT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The reason for the delay, says Goswell, was due to Lush’s lack of experience with electronics.
    Victoria Turk, WIRED, 26 Jan. 2025
  • One reason for this is that the series was shot on the streets of New York, unusual at the time.
    Glynnis MacNicol, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Filming began in May 1972 and took several years to complete, largely because of funding issues (the money came from a variety of sources, including grants, loans from Lynch’s father and friends, including Sissy Spacek, and even Lynch’s own paper route).
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The city relies extensively on the approval of state loans and other sources of funding that are under the governor’s purview.
    Alexandra Berzon, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Vahe was an English major at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his master’s degree at Mizzou.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Nicole grew up in Idaho, graduated from Idaho State University and Northwestern University with a master’s degree in journalism.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Our fabulous intuition suggests the man holding the bag, will be CBS’ rules analyst Gene Steratore.
    Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2025
  • But when his administration adopted water rules that weakened environmental protections in the delta, the state and conservation groups successfully challenged the changes in court.
    Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near authority

Cite this Entry

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on authority

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