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

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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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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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 If authority, accountability and risk exposure are misaligned across the executive team, execution will stall the moment the first obstacle appears. — Susana Cabrera, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Nevada Department of Fish and Wildlife Spokesperson Kenzie Margiott told The Bee that authorities attempted to trap the river otter in Hidden Beach on Sunday afternoon but were unable to find it. — Sacbee.com, 2 Sep. 2026 An Oklahoma man has been charged with two counts of murder after a deadly explosion at a marijuana extraction business, authorities said. — Josh Kelly, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 At least 22 people, including Egyptians and Jordanians, were killed Wednesday in a passenger bus crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, authorities in both countries said. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for authority

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authority

Noun

These experts assign ratings after analyzing a company's financials and ability to consistently pay dividends while also seeking capital appreciation.

— TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
Leading the way in court There are dozens of cases across the country surrounding the legal status of prediction sites, and experts believe the matter will eventually be decided by the Supreme Court.

— Marshall Cohen, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of expert

Noun

Adding insult to injury, the defections came even as GOP hard-liners were ready to paralyze the House over an unrelated dispute with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on funding the government.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
In a footnote to his dissent, Roberts wrote that the underground work on the project – which lower courts had allowed to proceed – addressed the government’s security concerns.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of government

Noun

As Itauma continued attempting to throw power punches, Hrgović knew his opponent had nothing left and went for the kill.

— Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
The last act before festival founder Olivia Rodrigo, Roan turned it out with all of her powers—bolstered by a bold and bitchy, razor-sharp bob.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of power

Noun

After wrapping up its longest monthly losing streak on Wall Street in more than a decade, Google has started September by giving investors several reasons for optimism.

— MacKenzie Sigalos,Drew Troast, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Another company might have seen the same 20% decline for entirely different reasons.

— James Fratzke, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of reason

Noun

The San Diego Padres will call up top catching prospect Ethan Salas when rosters expand Tuesday, a team source told The Athletic on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the move.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
From February through July 2026, ELG exceeded its plan by approximately $400 million of gross merchandise value, sources said.

— David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of source

Noun

Calcium and vitamin D are often supplemented together for bone health, but research shows mixed results on their effectiveness in improving bone mineral density or reducing fracture risk.

— Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2026
Milwaukee police officials have stood by the technology's effectiveness, despite months of criticism and two officers facing criminal charges for misuse of the system.

— David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of effectiveness

Noun

Braking performance comes courtesy of Gale Speed calipers, a Kustom Tech master cylinder, and custom in-house caliper brackets.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
The Illusion Of 'Clean' Data Over the past decade, companies have poured enormous effort into data quality, governance frameworks, master data initiatives and cloud migrations.

— Kevin Campbell, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of master

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authorities

authority

authorization

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Style

“Authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authority. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of authority

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Synonyms of authority

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