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
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Recent Examples of authority
State police arrested a woman in connection with a March crash that killed a pedestrian in Pulaski County, authorities said.
—
Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
At the center of these disputes is the president's authority to remove executive branch officers from their positions at independent agencies.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
The cause of the roof collapse wasn't immediately clear as authorities investigated.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
As the pulse of Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter brings a distinctive voice backed by 95 years of history, giving us unparalleled access and authority in the entertainment world.
—Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 9 Apr. 2025
At the center of these disputes is the president's authority to remove executive branch officers from their positions at independent agencies.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025
The cause of the roof collapse wasn't immediately clear as authorities investigated.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
As the pulse of Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter brings a distinctive voice backed by 95 years of history, giving us unparalleled access and authority in the entertainment world.
—Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
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All the fashion experts—including Hailey Bieber—have surrendered to their charm.—
Isabel Serra,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
-
Here’s what the experts have to say about why grief shows up in the body and how to cope with it.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
SELF,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
At the Tesla dealership, investigators found graffiti with messages that took aim at Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who is currently leading efforts by President Donald Trump to dramatically shrink the size of the government by cutting programs, employees and in some cases, entire agencies.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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One tool the federal government could use to shape A.I.’s development is its buying power.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
That economic footprint is matched by political and organizational influence.—
Ronak D. Desai,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Wisconsin Supreme Court Race Wisconsin's Supreme Court race has shattered fundraising records and drawn major out-of-state influence.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Because a bat has a thick barrel and rotates when swung, its motion and power depend on the distribution of weight across the entire shaft, not just in one spot.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
-
For Manal, the real power of the album lies in speaking up about topics considered taboo in society.—
Nour Ezzedine,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The reason for the independence, the Brookings Institution explains, is that politicians tend to want lower interest rates because lower rates stimulate the economy.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The reason for the increase in the Tigers’ team score came after a review of Mizzou’s third rotation — balance beam.—
Henry Chappell,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Tesla's lower-cost Model Y: US launch pushed back as sources reveal production challengesNeed a break?—
Mike Scarcella,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
What To Know The man was on the fifth floor of Trump Tower and in an emotionally disturbed state, The New York Daily News reported, citing a police source.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The images feature the brand’s ready-to-wear, custom and bespoke suits, the latter of which are available by appointment with the company’s master tailor.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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The team from Bar Mood in Taipei is taking the lead on nonalcoholic and low-ABV drinks, and master sommelier Kyungmoon Kim has put together a list of wines and sools to accompany the menu.—
Kate Kassin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The only issue with the price Chelsea Women was sold for was that they were bought by their parent company in a move that helped the men’s team comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) in 2023-24.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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This discovery provides insight into the burial practices and artistic expressions during the Mongol rule in China.—
Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
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