Find Synonyms

authority Synonyms

Another word for authority

Choosing another word for authority depends on context, so the 29 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.

Usage Example

"The project manager has the power to approve budget changes."

Strongest
power
jurisdiction
control
command
Strong
dominion
sovereignty
supremacy
ascendancy

• noun (Context 2)

A person or organization having political or administrative power and control within a particular sphere (often used in the plural).

Usage Example

"Local authorities are working to restore electricity after the storm."

Strongest
administration
Strong
government
officialdom
management
regulator
bureaucracy

• noun (Context 3)

A person with extensive or specialized knowledge about a subject; an accepted source of reliable information.

Usage Example

"She is a leading international expert on marine biology."

Strongest
expert
specialist
Strong
master
scholar
connoisseur
pundit
virtuoso

• noun (Context 4)

Official permission or sanction to do something.

Usage Example

"The contractor acted without the permission of the homeowner."

Strongest
permission
authorization
sanction
Strong
mandate
warrant
license
clearance
consent

Opposites of authority

The opposite of authority shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

prohibition
powerlessness
novice
amateur
ban
impotence
veto
beginner
See all opposites of authority

• Nearby Words

authoritative
authoritatively
authoritativeness
authority
authorization
authorize
authorizer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Authority. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/authority
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