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
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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
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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
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6
7
as in effectiveness
the capacity to persuade
a strict grammarian whose pronouncements carried plenty of authority with my third-grade English teacher
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of authority
The cards can also be presented to authorities to exercise a person's right not to answer questions without the presence of an attorney if an officer begins to question someone about their legal status, according to the group.
—
Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2025
The authorities have stipulated the roommate has been cooperating with the investigation and was not aware of the shooting prior to its occurrence.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 19 Sep. 2025
An indication of congressional thinking was given recently by a senator from Oklahoma, who spoke with some authority as a member of the appropriations subcommittee that handles Army and Navy requests for money.
—John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
While authorities haven’t identified a suspect or person of interest yet, several details about the investigation have come out.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2025
The authorities have stipulated the roommate has been cooperating with the investigation and was not aware of the shooting prior to its occurrence.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 19 Sep. 2025
An indication of congressional thinking was given recently by a senator from Oklahoma, who spoke with some authority as a member of the appropriations subcommittee that handles Army and Navy requests for money.
—John Fischer, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
While authorities haven’t identified a suspect or person of interest yet, several details about the investigation have come out.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for authority
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority
Noun
-
Many have significant reservations about the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccine, despite assurances from most experts that the benefits outweigh the risks.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
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While Thursday’s vote against the combo shot may seem like a small tweak, experts said the fact that the panel was revisiting older vaccines can erode confidence in the overall vaccine process.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Although Lerner later resigned, the controversy became a lasting symbol of what Republicans call the weaponization of government against ideological opponents.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
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Since applicants go through the renewal process every two years, immigration experts say that those with active status have already been screened by the government and given protection from deportation.—
Armando Garcia,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Queen’s Universal Appeal Marie Antoinette was a fashion icon in her own right, a precursor to modern celebrities, and her influence has had a lasting impact on the arts as a whole.—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The examination of the influences has turned into a cultural cornerstone.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, global demand for data center capacity could more than triple by 2030, requiring upgrades in power, cooling, and connectivity.—
Maurice Obeid,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Republicans argued this, and not pressure from Carr, was the reason behind ABC’s decision to bench Kimmel.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
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However, GPUs will remain one of the best solutions for both AI training and AI inference processing for two key reasons, which Nvidia is building upon with the Rubin CPX announcement.—
Jim McGregor,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That's part of the 'framework' agreement for TikTok, which will also include new and existing investors in its Chinese parent company ByteDance, sources told CNBC's David Faber.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
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As demand for electricity surged to power more electric devices in homes and Big Tech's boom in data centers, renewable energy has been the go-to source for the cheapest, fastest way to generate more juice.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Element Human, which uses behavioral AI to measure creative effectiveness, analyzed a recent Jake collaboration with creator Daniel LaBelle.—
Jamie Gutfreund,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Injection wells could also help reduce Arizona’s carbon footprint through carbon capture, though some scientists question that technology’s effectiveness.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Brown's former master distiller left his job at a grocery store and returned to bourbon making for a few months each year during the final chapter of Prohibition.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
16 Sep. 2025
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These roles typically require a master’s degree but offer starting salaries in the $50,000-$70,000 range with significant growth potential.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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