AUTHORIZES Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

authorizes

verb

present tense third-person singular of authorize

as in enables

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

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as in entitles

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

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as in approves

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

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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 authorizes Its defining feature is a flight system designed to manage the transition from takeoff to cruise after an operator authorizes launch. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 The declaration, announced Saturday afternoon, authorizes FEMA to coordinate all federal disaster relief. — AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026 The order allows the state to move resources into position ahead of the storm and authorizes Kemp to call up as many as 500 Georgia National Guard troops if needed. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 The major disaster declaration for Ohio authorizes direct assistance to residents of seven of the 23 counties requested by Republican Governor Mike DeWine. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 The law, which went into effect immediately, also authorizes the state tax agency to impose tax liability on individual members of a business. — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The board’s decision authorizes Waste Management and Recycling to initiate the Proposition 218 process required before residential rate increases can be implemented. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026 Constitutional arguments The companies have claimed states lack authority to address interstate and international sources of pollution unless Congress specifically authorizes it. — Patrick Parenteau, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 Refuse outright, and the tool is useless to whoever authorizes it. — Ethan Pham, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authorizes

Verb

Modular design enables upgrades Mayhem 10 features an open architecture that allows AeroVironment to incorporate third-party technologies without redesigning the entire platform.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Every farmer wants to do the right thing by their land—that enables them to sustain their business and pass it on to the next generation.

— Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of enables

Verb

The school board voted Tuesday to terminate Hill for convenience, a contractual designation that entitles her to severance.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
Gillibrand is the senior Democrat on the committee, which entitles her to lead one hearing per year on a topic of her choice.

— Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of entitles

Verb

Anura is the interface that empowers a small armored crew to seamlessly interact with everything from on-board mission systems to uncrewed teammates.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
Leibowitz ultimately framed the dispute not around whether noncitizens should vote, but around which level of government the Constitution empowers to decide who may participate in federal elections.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of empowers

Verb

The measure does not, however, leave any great mystery about how a project qualifies for the new permitting route.

— Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Whether one or both of Becerra’s parents qualifies as an immigrant might seem like minutiae to most voters, but Hilton’s accusation has thumped on the nerves on both the left and right — including my own, as the daughter of a South Asian immigrant.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of qualifies

Verb

Instead, party task forces (known as work teams) are mobilized to draft the verdict, colleagues from their workplace endorse it, and then a committee at a higher level of administration ratifies it.

— ANDREW MERTHA, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2026
The private sector’s role is to build the commercial reality that policy later ratifies.

— Hany Naeem, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of ratifies

Verb

The spokesperson confirms that ATF agents will be focused specifically on tracing the gun or weapons used by the suspect.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
This certification confirms that the headphones produce audio at safe levels that will not cause hearing loss.

— Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of confirms

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“Authorizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authorizes. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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