AUTHORITIES Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

authorities

noun

plural of authority

as in experts

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

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as in governments

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 influences

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 powers

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 reasons

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 sources

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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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 authorities The driver of the Mercedes-Benz remained at the scene until authorities arrived. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Two people were stabbed, one fatally, near Times Square on Monday afternoon, with responding authorities shooting and killing the female suspect, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026 The attack struck civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in several districts of Kyiv, authorities said, with eight people killed in the city itself and three others in the surrounding region. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 The latest attack struck civilian infrastructure and residential buildings in several districts of Kyiv, authorities said, with eight people killed in the city and four others in the surrounding region. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Sunil Pandey Speaking with NBC News in Pokhara, Nabin Karki, a superintendent of police, said authorities were collecting DNA samples and displaying photos of the bodies found in hopes that family members might be able to identify them. — Surendra Phuyal, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2026 Milby said solving and preventing these crimes requires that local, state and federal authorities work together seamlessly. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 When federal authorities announced the case in 2022, investigators said Jacobsen may have been in contact with as many as 175 potential victims through Snapchat. — Dean J. Condoleo, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 However, the plan imposes no mandatory cuts on the four upper basin states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming — which, unlike the lower basin, cannot be compelled to cut water by federal authorities. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorities

Noun

Below, the experts break down this fall’s biggest makeup trends.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 4 Sep. 2026
Though historically rare, murder or homicide charges in high-speed crashes that don’t involve drugs or alcohol are becoming increasingly common, according to experts interviewed by USA TODAY.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of experts

Noun

Waste plastic could provide another source of hydrocarbons for fuel production, particularly as governments and industry look for ways to deal with both plastic waste and aviation emissions.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Much of the remaining acreage consists of brownfield developments that were allowed to dilapidate into disrepair under the governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro.

— David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of governments

Noun

Clever and snappy, fresh and silly, a winning combination of classic Looney Tunes gags and contemporary concerns (the press notes mention many influences including, no joke, The Insider).

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Typically, in the success stories, there's a strong bond between the child and the parents that managed to survive a lot of the negative influences that can happen along the journey.

— Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of influences

Noun

Then there are the tensions between small island nations who make up the majority of the Forum and its two largest powers and biggest donors, Australia and New Zealand, about their climate efforts.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Between the huge practical sets and stunts, the matte paintings and in-camera trickery, the on-location filming, and a leading man at the height of his movie star powers, Spielberg and his team performed the filmmaking equivalent of wizardry.

— Frank DeRuggiero, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of powers

Noun

Renewable energy credits serve as proof that a company uses electricity from clean energy sources like solar farms, according to the Retail Energy Supply Association.

— Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026
Other dark leafy greens, such as Swiss chard and collard greens, are good sources, too.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of sources

Noun

This coexistence of one god and many gods may initially appear contradictory, but a clearer picture emerges by tracing the history of how Hindu texts, traditions, and thinkers—and some Western scholars—have answered this question.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
But legal scholars say those cases are different because the doctors weren't in Louisiana and never fled the state and became fugitives.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of scholars

Noun

The new rules mandated that referees stop play for a ten-minute hydration break that allows players to drink fluids, change clothes, or shower in their locker room.

— Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Local authorities say rules have been set by US authorities barring personnel from visiting cannabis dispensaries and taking part in watersports including jet skiing and parasailing.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of rules

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authoritativeness

authorities

authority

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Style

“Authorities.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorities. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of authorities

noun

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