AUTHORITY Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

authority

noun

ə-ˈthȯr-ə-tē

Definition of authority next

as in expert

a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field the leading authority on neural anatomy

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Relevance

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as in government

lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the sheriff had authority over the whole county

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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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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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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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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

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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

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

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 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