AUTHORIZE Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

authorize

verb

ˈȯ-thə-ˌrīz

Definition of authorize

as in to enable

to give official or legal power to only the school nurse is authorized to give any necessary shots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to entitle

to give a right to this pass will authorize you to go backstage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to approve

to give official acceptance of as satisfactory a system for sound reproduction that has been authorized as meeting the electronic industry's highest standards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 authorize To support these demands, Jeanie Buss contends the California Probate Code authorizes a trustee to seek instructions from a court to resolve internal disagreements about a trust. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Key Biscayne The Village of Key Biscayne strictly prohibits all micromobility devices on streets, highways, sidewalks, bicycle paths, multiuse paths and trails, beaches and dunes unless otherwise authorized. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 Daniel Oxendine Harford County Sheriff's Office Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said the woman needed a ride home after an unrelated domestic incident in Baltimore, and Oxendine's supervisor authorized him to drive her in a patrol car. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 The city’s charter authorizes the mayor to nominate someone to serve out the term of a vacated seat on the City Council when fewer than 18 months are left of the four-year term. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for authorize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorize

Verb

The approach appears to be adding a midfielder who can cover larger spaces in the middle of the pitch, enabling the team to be more proactive and aggressive in their press.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
The advanced safety detector, which screens incoming messages for policy violations, must be manually enabled by users.

— Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of enable

Verb

In his dissent on the ballroom construction, Roberts wrote that the project – which has not been approved by Congress – probably infringes on lawmakers’ ability to control federal spending and to regulate federal property.

— Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Those changes were made when the Senate approved its version of the bill.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of approve

Verb

The rest of American medicine is thousands of autonomous clinics on different records and different payers, with no one empowered to give the order.

— John E. Harrison, Baltimore Sun, 1 Sep. 2026
To successfully integrate these returnees, Damascus must empower governorates and municipalities with the resources and autonomy to solve problems pertaining to service delivery, job creation, and education in real time.

— Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of empower

Verb

To qualify, travelers must book a round-trip JetBlue Main Fare flight combined with a hotel or cruise for travel by February 10, 2027.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Your mansion has a minimum size To qualify as a mansion on Indian Creek, size matters.

— Luisa Yanez Updated September 3, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of qualify

Verb

If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech?

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
There is no official balloon season, since flights can operate throughout the year whenever conditions permit.

— Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of permit

Verb

The department later confirmed that the area was secure and that no further threat to the public remained.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Also Tuesday, just after court was dismissed, Dawn Light, 56, of Sutton, Massachusetts, was arrested outside the courthouse in Plymouth, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police confirmed.

— Blayne Alexander, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of confirm

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authorizations

authorize

authorized

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of authorize

verb

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