Synonyms for authority
əˈθɔr ɪ ti, əˈθɒr-au·thor·i·ty

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. authority

   Authority unites the right and power of control; age, wisdom, and character give authority to their possessor; a book of learned research has authority, and is even called an authority. Permission justifies another in acting without interference or censure, and usually implies some degree of approval. Authority gives a certain right of control over all that may be affected by the action. There may be a failure to object, which constitutes an implied permission, tho this is more properly expressed by allowance; we allow what we do not oppose, permit what we expressly authorize. The noun permit implies a formal written permission. License is a formal permission granted by competent authority to an individual to do some act or pursue some business which would be or is made to be unlawful without such permission; as, a license to preach, to solemnize marriages, or to sell intoxicating liquors. A license is permission granted rather than authority conferred; the sheriff has authority (not permission nor license) to make an arrest. Consent is permission by the concurrence of wills in two or more persons, a mutual approval or acceptance of something proposed. Compare ALLOW.

   Synonyms:
   allowance, authorization, consent, leave, liberty, license, permission, permit

   Antonyms:
   denial, hindrance, objection, opposition, prevention, prohibition, refusal, resistance

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. authority

   Synonyms:
   ground, justification, authenticity, genuineness, conjectureness, decisiveness, control, direction, jurisdiction, government, regulation, power, right, rule, sway, sufferance, supremacy, dominion

   Antonyms:
   groundlessness, spuriousness, indecision, inconclusiveness, inoperativeness, incompetency, weakness, usurpation, wrong

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. authority, authorization, authorisation, potency, dominance, say-sonoun

   the power or right to give orders or make decisions

   "he has the authority to issue warrants"; "deputies are given authorization to make arrests"; "a place of potency in the state"

   Synonyms:
   potence, potency, government agency, potentiality, federal agency, assurance, ascendance, authorization, ascendency, control, strength, effectiveness, self-confidence, laterality, potential, say-so, self-assurance, agency, dictum, ascendancy, sanction, dominance, sureness, confidence, bureau, office, empowerment, ascendence, authorisation, mandate, pronouncement

2. authoritynoun

   (usually plural) persons who exercise (administrative) control over others

   "the authorities have issued a curfew"

   Synonyms:
   potency, assurance, dominance, self-assurance, confidence, government agency, federal agency, sanction, self-confidence, office, authorisation, authorization, bureau, agency, sureness, say-so

3. authoritynoun

   an expert whose views are taken as definitive

   "he is an authority on corporate law"

   Synonyms:
   potency, assurance, dominance, self-assurance, confidence, government agency, federal agency, sanction, self-confidence, office, authorisation, authorization, bureau, agency, sureness, say-so

4. assurance, self-assurance, confidence, self-confidence, authority, surenessnoun

   freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities

   "his assurance in his superiority did not make him popular"; "after that failure he lost his confidence"; "she spoke with authority"

   Synonyms:
   potency, pledge, sanction, dominance, assurance, authorization, trust, self-confidence, say-so, self-assurance, federal agency, agency, bureau, sureness, confidence, government agency, office, authorisation

5. agency, federal agency, government agency, bureau, office, authoritynoun

   an administrative unit of government

   "the Central Intelligence Agency"; "the Census Bureau"; "Office of Management and Budget"; "Tennessee Valley Authority"

   Synonyms:
   assurance, billet, berth, means, confidence, chest of drawers, spot, bureau, delegacy, role, office staff, function, dominance, post, dresser, sanction, part, self-assurance, power, way, say-so, sureness, place, representation, government agency, agency, chest, position, business office, self-confidence, potency, authorisation, situation, office, authorization, federal agency

6. authority, authorization, authorisation, sanctionnoun

   official permission or approval

   "authority for the program was renewed several times"

   Synonyms:
   endorsement, potency, government agency, countenance, federal agency, assurance, authorization, self-confidence, warrant, say-so, self-assurance, indorsement, agency, sanction, dominance, sureness, confidence, bureau, office, imprimatur, empowerment, authorisation, mandate

7. authoritynoun

   an authoritative written work

   "this book is the final authority on the life of Milton"

   Synonyms:
   potency, assurance, dominance, self-assurance, confidence, government agency, federal agency, sanction, self-confidence, office, authorisation, authorization, bureau, agency, sureness, say-so

Matched Categories

1. • Administrative Unit
   • Book
   • Certainty
   • Control
   • Expert
   • Permission
   • Person

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. guardian

   someone who takes care of you or is in charged of you

   my guardian is the person who takes care of me

   Submitted by rinat on September 9, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   power, sovereignty, dominion, empire, government

2. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   rule, sway, ascendency, supremacy, control, influence, interest

3. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   permission, warrant, warranty, liberty, permit, precept, order, authorization, sanction

4. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   witness, testimony

5. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   credibility, weight of evidence

6. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   respectability, dignity, weight of character

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. authoritynoun

   Synonyms:
   dominion, jurisdiction, authorization, right, prestige, influence, ascendency, supremacy, precedent, justification, warrant, permission, sanction, permit, license, warranty, credibility, reliability, trustworthiness

   Associated words:
   purview

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "authority":

   power, authorities, authorization, powers, administration, hkma, authorisation, body, competence, agency, jurisdiction, autorité, credentials, permission, authoritative, directors, authorized, 'autorité, pa, eaa, organa, authoritativeness, entity, supervision, authorizations, leadership, oversight, approval, institution, trustees

Suggested Resources

1. authority

   The authority symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the authority symbol and its characteristic.

How to pronounce authority?

How to say authority in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use authority in a sentence?

1. Jonathan Ernst -RRB- Youngkin:

   In Virginia, it is clear under law that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions for their children's upbringing, their education and their care, and so we are providing parents an opt-out, we're providing them the ability to make the right decision for their child with regards to their child's well-being. We are going to use all the authority that I have to consider all options to protect that right, and I think this is exactly what Virginians voted for in November and we delivered yesterday.

2. Government Accountability Office:

   Providing FRA with the authority to grant extensions on a case-by-case basis would provide some needed flexibility and could also assist FRA in managing its limited staff resources.

3. Rick Cotton:

   The Port Authority’s infrastructure improvements such as the raising of the Bayonne Bridge and the deepening of the navigational channel serving our seaport have made possible this historic moment, these infrastructure improvements also have helped generate record cargo volumes and enabled our supply lines to remain extraordinarily robust during the pandemic.

4. Del Pino:

   Even Naimi didn't have the authority to change anything. The Saudis said, 'we have new papers and either you approve them or we don't agree'.

5. Kevin Ivers:

   The stakes are very high for Guaido and Leopoldo Lopez, now the regime has the authority to arrest and possibly kill them, which could be the end of what started in January, with Guaido's move to declare himself president.