Synonyms for authority
Most common
power control command sovereignty jurisdiction sanction confidence office
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Power — power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power…
power, control, command, sovereignty, government, dominion, influence, ascendancy, rule, lordship, supremacy, rulership, regulation, direction, master, empire, domination, sway, precept UK
2. Authorization — official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity
authorization UK US, authorisation UK, jurisdiction, sanction, warrant, permission, man date informal, allowance, clearance, warranty, permit dated, leave formal dated
3. Confidence
confidence, strength, self-assurance, assurance, mastery, self-confidence, sureness
4. Office
Definitions
- n. 1
Power or right to make or enforce rules, give orders, or impose obligation; or a position having such power or right.
She lost all respect and authority after turning up drunk at the meeting.
- n. 2
Official permission; authorisation to act in some capacity on behalf of a ruling entity.
- n. 3
Persons, regarded collectively, who occupy official positions of power; police or law enforcement.
Authorities say the suspect fled on foot.
- n. 4
A reliable, definitive source of information on a subject.
the world's foremost authority on orangutans
Related words
Forms
- Plural
- authorities → powers, controls, commands, sovereignties…
Choose the right word
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. Authority gives a certain right of control over all that may be affected by the action.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- power This machine consumes 10% of all the power we use.
- control Some think it is based on love, others on control.
- command We want you to take command of this unified force.
- sovereignty Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation.
- jurisdiction The judge said that the case was outside of his jurisdiction.
- sanction They will not sanction copying without permission.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| authority | falling | |
| power | steady | |
| control | falling | |
| command | rising | |
| sovereignty | rising | |
| jurisdiction | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- rule1, guru2, sway1
- 5 letters
- right1, power2, leave1, judge1
- 6 letters
- office2, master2, agency3, expert2, empire3, bureau2, permit2
- 7 letters
- control2, command2, witness2, warrant2, mastery3, potency3, precept2
- 8 letters
- interest2, strength1, prestige2, dominion3, warranty3, sanction2, lordship2, gravitas3, sureness
- 9 letters
- direction3, influence3, testimony4, clearance2, allowance3, assurance3, dominance3, supremacy4, rulership
- 10 letters
- government3, commission3, confidence3, permission3, regulation4, domination4, ascendancy4
- 11 letters
- sovereignty3
- 12 letters
- jurisdiction4
- 13 letters
- authorization5, authorisation
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (guru2 = 2 syllables).