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.
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Recent Examples of authority
An Agoura Hills home displaying a Palestinian flag was attacked in a hate crime, authorities say.
—
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Listen to this article Many of the military families who evacuated after a private jet crashed into their Murphy Canyon neighborhood a week ago — killing the pilot and five passengers on board — were expected to be allowed back into their homes Thursday, authorities said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Coello Perozo hit two other cars while driving away, but no injuries were reported in those collisions, authorities said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
The motive for the attacks was not disclosed by authorities.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Listen to this article Many of the military families who evacuated after a private jet crashed into their Murphy Canyon neighborhood a week ago — killing the pilot and five passengers on board — were expected to be allowed back into their homes Thursday, authorities said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Coello Perozo hit two other cars while driving away, but no injuries were reported in those collisions, authorities said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2025
The motive for the attacks was not disclosed by authorities.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
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Heterosexuality is the norm, and experts say that creates the need to dedicate a month to LGBTQ+ visibility.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
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The government’s fall after less than a year in power is expected to trigger snap elections, although experts say a vote before October is unlikely and the process of forming a new government could take months.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
3 June 2025
Noun
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But Trump’s second term has upended the relationship between higher education and the federal government.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
1 June 2025
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And ultimately, immigration attorneys say, the government makes mistakes.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
1 June 2025
Noun
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Factors like age, lifestyle, and weight history influence how well the skin adjusts.—
Heidi Cope,
Health,
29 May 2025
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Read More: What the History of Saint Augustine Can Teach us About Pope Leo XIV Despite setting limits on the autonomy of the American Church, the social teachings of Leo XIII had enormous influence on Catholicism in the U.S., especially after the horrors of World War I.—
Time,
Time,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
But that, in itself, speaks to the power of acknowledging reality onscreen — even in science-fiction.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 May 2025
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If the Heat doesn’t extend that qualifying offer, Mitchell would become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Miami would lose the power to always have an opportunity match outside offers.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
There’s no reason for the United States to be in debt.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
26 May 2025
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That's not great, but Rachel Zegler is as the main reason why this musical revamp of the 1937 Disney classic works.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Charlie Davis Season: 46 Placed: 2nd If Q was the hurricane blowing through Survivor 46, Davis was a source of calm geniality at the center, constantly quoting Taylor Swift songs while obscuring his careful, clever gameplay.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
29 May 2025
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That is the spring source of a waterfall that cascades into new economic equations and, eventually, quarterly profits.—
Mung Chiang,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Skills build on themselves, so children who don’t master kindergarten phonics or counting could remain behind in future grades.—
Claire Cain Miller,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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The master artisan will also assemble an accessory from the BADURA high leather goods collection, deftly using his hands as tools honed through decades of proficiency and techniques steeped in centuries-old traditions.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Noun
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Older people were hit the hardest socially by COVID rules that limited or barred visits from family and friends.—
Joshua Zatulskis,
Hartford Courant,
25 May 2025
-
Eventually – inevitably – a recession will occur, but the huge 2022-2024 inversion will not have predicted it by the traditional rules of interpretation.—
George Calhoun,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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