He's quite authoritative.
Source: tatoeba (2758852)
Authoritative
/ɔːˈθɒɹɪtətɪv/
Synonyms for "authoritative" (417 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (84)
Adjective(18 words)
definitiveacademic community leadersancient textsauthentic sourcesauthorisedauthorizedbinding legal rulecanonical jurisprudencecanonical lawcentral authoritycertified resultscloutycodified guidelinescommandingconclusive cause determinationconfident bearingcontrolling influencecorporeal presence
absoluteabsolutistabsolutisticacceptedaccurateacquainted withadeptadroitapprovedaptarbitraryaristocraticarmipotentarrogantartisticascendantassuringat home inat home withattested
Show 37 more words
authenticauthenticatedauthoritarianauthorizedautocraticbindingbossybravurabrilliantcanonicalcategoricalcathedralcertifiedcharismaticcharmingchristiancircumstantiatedclassicalcleancleverclothed with authoritycogentcommandingcompetentconclusiveconfinedconfirmedconsequentialconsiderableconsistentcontrollingconventionalconversant withconvictionalconvincingcoordinatedcorrect
Noun(8 words)
academic authorityacademic expertbinding decisionbroadsheetcabinet level authoritycabinet secretarycabinet-level policycontrol overall force
Verb(1 words)
Strong matches (125)
crackcrackerjackcunningcustomarycutedaedaldaedaliandecisivedeftdependabledespoticdeterminativedexterousdextrousdictateddictatordictatorialdidacticdiplomaticdoctrinaire
Show 63 more words
documenteddogmaticdominantdomineeringduly constituteddynamiceffectiveeffectualefficaciouseminentempoweredenchantingenergeticestimableevangelicalex cathedraex officioexcellentexpertfactualfaithfulfamiliar withfancyfeaturefeaturedfeudalfirmforcefulforcibleformularygoodgoodishgoverninggracefulgreatgrindinghandyhard and fasthegemonichegemonistichigh handedhigh poweredhigh-handedhigh-potencyhigh-poweredhigh-pressurehigh-tensionimperativeimperialimperiousimportantimpressivein forcein powerindisputableinfluentialinformed iningeniousinstructiveintimate withirrefutableirresistiblejust
Adjective(26 words)
crediblecredible datadecisive pointdecretivedefinitive wordingdirective actiondirective languageedictaleducational referenceexecutive boardexecutive body decisionsexecutive-issuedexpert consensusfinal cause determinationgerman einflussgoverning authoritygoverning authority guidelinesgoverning principlesgoverning systemgovernmental agency
Show 6 more words
Verb(3 words)
Related words (208)
Adjective(36 words)
kinglikeleaderlikelegitimatemain authoritymanagerialmoral authoritynational government bodyofficialofficial codeofficial mandateofficial policiesofficial proceduresofficial recordsofficial rulebookofficial specificationpaternalisticpersuasive dialoguepowerful shovepresidential policyprime ministerial duties
Show 16 more words
professional mathematicianqueenlikereference bookregulatoryreliableruling authoritiesruling policysanctionedsenior officialstandard texttextbookishtop down decision makingtop down policytribal counciltrustworthywritten-law sources
knowledgeablelawfulleadinglearnedlegallegitimatelimitedliterallogicallordlymagisterialmagistralmagneticmandatorymaster ofmasterfulmasterlymightymighty in battlemomentous
Show 115 more words
monocraticneatno meanof the faithofficialoperativeoppressiveorthodoxorthodoxicaloverbearingoverrulingperemptorypersonablepersuasivepoliticpotentpowerpowerfulpreceptivepreeminentprepotentprescribedprescriptprescriptiveprestigiousprofessionalproficientproficient inprominentproperprovenpuissantquickquite somerankingreadyreceivedregulationreliablerepressivereputableresourcefulresponsiblerestrictedrightrubricrulingsanctionedsatisfactorysatisfyingscholarlyscripturalself-consistentseniorsevereskillfulslicksolidsomesoundspecialistspecialisticspecializedstandardstatesmanlikestatutorystrictstrikingstrongstrong instylishsuasivesubstantialsufficientsuperiorsuppressivesupremesuretactfultechnicaltellingtextualthe compleatthe completetotaltotalitariantraditionaltraditionalistictruetrue bluetrue-bluetrustabletrustworthytruthfultyrannicaltyrannousunrefutableup onvalidvalidatedverifiableverifiedveritableversed invigorousvirtuosovitalweightywell donewell-donewell-foundedwell-groundedwell-read inwinningworkmanlike
Noun(31 words)
lobbying powermilitary commandermorally authoritativemore directivemore governingmore powerfulmore presidentialmost presidentialnapoleonic erapolitically influential figurepontificatingpower producingprime ministerialprime ministerial leadershipproclaimingprofessional licensepublic edictreference datareference textroyal edict
Show 11 more words
ruling bodyruling body decisionsruling structureruling-body policystate authority powersstrong influencestrong proof forteam leader authoritytop-down organizationtotal controltribal council directive
Determiner(1 words)
most governing
Verb(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: definitive, absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, academic authority.
- Sentence evidence is available for authoritative, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "authoritative".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "authoritative"
Keep "authoritative" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "authoritative" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "authoritative", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "authoritative" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
8 entriesauthorized procedurecredible sourcedefinitive claimexpert testimonyofficial announcementofficial policypeer reviewed articlesanctioned guideline
Collocations
6 entriesauthoritative figureauthoritative instructionauthoritative sourceauthoritative stanceauthoritative toneauthoritative voice
Inflections
2 entriesmore authoritativemost authoritative
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
14 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
On May 6, 2014, the Administration released the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA), the most authoritative and comprehensive source of scientific information to date about climate change impacts across all U.S. regions and on critical sectors of the economy.
Source: tatoeba (3651067)
Developed over four years by hundreds of the Nation’s top climate scientists and technical experts—and informed by thousands of inputs from the public and outside organizations gathered through town hall meetings, public-comment opportunities, and technical workshops across the country, the third National Climate Assessment represents the most authoritative and comprehensive knowledge base about how climate change is affecting America now, and what’s likely to come over the next century.
Source: tatoeba (3651092)
These days Mary is never sure to whom grammar questions should be addressed to ensure an authoritative answer.
Source: tatoeba (3943300)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "authoritative"?
Closest matches include definitive, absolute, absolutist, absolutistic, academic authority.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "authoritative"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.