Teachers shouldn't fall back on their authority.
Source: tatoeba (19053)
Authority
/əˈθɔɹədi/
Synonyms for "authority" (540 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (108)
Noun(16 words)
authorizationacademic expertagencyassuranceauthorisationbureaucaciquecathedrachieferclassroom authority figurecommandingconfidencecontrolcontrol overall forcecontrolscredentials
absolutismacmeadeptadministrationadmirable crichtonadviseraffidavitaficionadoagencyagentshipamateuramperageannouncerannunciatorappurtenancearbiterarbiter elegantiarumarbiter of tastearmipotenceartisan
Show 69 more words
artistartisteascendancyassignmentattacheattestationauspicesauthoritativenessauthoritiesauthorizationbalancebe-all and end-allbeefbill of healthbirthrightblack powerblue ribbonbon vivantbrevetbrute forcebuffcarecarte blanchecertificatecertificate of proficiencycertificationchairchampionshipchannelchargecharismacharmcharterclaimclawsclearancecloutclutchescogencecogencycognoscentecollectorcommandcommissioncommissioningcommitmentcommunicantcommunicatorcompetencecompulsionconductconjugal rightconnaisseurconnoisseurconsequenceconsignmentconsultantcontrolcordon bleucountenancecrack shotcraftsmancredentialcrediblecreditcriticcrowncuredab
Adjective(3 words)
administrative bodybritish controlcommon reference
Strong matches (162)
dead shotdelegated authoritydelegationdemanddepositiondeputationdeterminantdevolutiondevolvementdilettantedintdiplomadiplomatdiplomatistdirectiondirectorshipdispositiondivine rightdoctordominance
Show 119 more words
dominationdominiondoyendrivedroitdueduresseffecteffectivenesseffectualityelderelder statesmanembassyeminenceemperyempireempowermentenablingenchantmentenergyenfranchisementenlightenerentitlemententrustingentrustmentepicureepicureanerrandestablishmentesteemevidenceexampleexecutorshipexemplarexequaturexperienced handexperimental scientistexpertexpert consultantexpert witnessfactorshipfacultyfanfavorfiatfirst placefirst prizeflower powerforceforce majeureforcefulnessfreakfreedomfull blastfull forcefull powergood feelinggood judgegossipmongergourmandgourmetgovernancegovernmentgraduategrapevinegreat soulgreatnessgripguidanceguruhandhandlinghandshandy manheadshiphegemonyheighthighestholdhusbandryidealilluminateimperiumimportanceinalienable rightincidental powerinfluenceinfluentialityinfluentialnessinformantinformation centerinformation mediuminformerinsinuationintellectintellectualinterestintervieweeiron handjourneymanjudgejurisdictionjustnesskingshipleadleadershipleadinglegationlegitimacyleveragelicencelicenselieutenancylocklordshiplover of wisdommagisterialnessmagnetismmahatma
Adjective(1 words)
dignified demeanor
Noun(21 words)
dominancedoyendoyenseminencesexecutive authorityexert oneselfexpertfederal agencyfield authoritygavelsgovernment agencygrantgurusimperial administrationin chargeinfluenceinstrumentalityissuerkahunasmaestro
Show 1 more word
Preposition(1 words)
in power
Related words (270)
main forcemain strengthman of intellectman of scienceman of wisdommanamanagementmanagerymanagingmandarinmandatemanipulationmarksmanmastermastermindmastershipmasterymavenmaximummentor
Show 205 more words
mightmight and mainmightinessmissionmodelmomentmonitormostmouthpiecemoxiemuscle powernatural rightnavicertne plus ultranew highnewsmongerno slouchnobilitynotarized statementnotenotifiernutofficeofficialdomofficialsoracleorderingpalmpalmsparamountcypasspast masterpatternpermitpersonalitypersuasionphilosopherpilotagepizzazzplenipotentiary powerpolicepoliticianpooppotencepotencypotentialitypowerpower of attorneypower packpower structurepower strugglepower to actpowerfulnesspowers that bepractical scientistprecedencepredominancepreponderanceprepotencyprerogativeprescriptionpresidencypresspressureprestigepresumptive rightpretensepretensionprimacypriorityprivilegeproprocurationproductivenessproductivityprofessionalprofessorproficientprominenceproper claimproperty rightprotocolproxypublic relations officerpublisherpuissancepullpunchpunditpurchasepurviewpushrabbiradiorajrankratificationrecordrefined palateregencyregentshipregnancyregulationreignreporterreputationreputeresponsibilityrightrishirulerunningsagesanctionsapientsavantsaysay sosay-soscholarscientistseersenioritysharksharpsheepskinsignificancesinewsoliditysoundnesssourcesovereigntyspecialistspokesmanstandardstaretsstatesmanstaturesteamsteeragesteeringstrengthstringstringsstrong armsuasionsubstantialitysubtle influencesuggestionsuperioritysuperpowersupremacyswaysworn statementtalonstasktechnical advisertechnical experttechniciantechnologisttelevisiontellertestamurtestimonialtestimonythe connthe helmthe wheelthinkertickettipstertitletop spottouttrusttrusteeshipupperupper handvalidityvehemencevested interestvested rightvicarious authorityvigorvimvirilityvirtuevirtuosovirulencevisavisevitalityvoucherwarrantwarrantywattageweightweightinesswhip handwise manwise old manwitnesswizardwordzenith
Verb(1 words)
maintain total control
Noun(37 words)
mandatingmavensmavinmavinsmimirmore mayoralofficeoversight mandatepermissionportuguese agênciapotencypowerprelatureprime ministerialreferencesregimeregulatorregulatorsreinsruling
Show 17 more words
sanctionsay-sosceptersscholarscope of authorityself-assuranceself-confidencesheikhdomsspanish poderspecialistspecialistsstate territorystrong influencesupremosurenesstribal council decisionsweight behind argument
Determiner(2 words)
most governingthe commands
Adjective(4 words)
Preposition(1 words)
with force
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: authorization, absolutism, academic expert, acme, adept.
- Sentence evidence is available for authority, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, 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 "authority".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "authority"
Keep "authority" 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 "authority" 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 "authority", 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 "authority" 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
14 entriesMore specific
9 entriesCollocations
5 entriesacademic authorityclassroom authoritylocal authoritymoral authorityparental authority
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
29 total sentences available.
The students revolted against authority.
Source: tatoeba (21433)
By what authority do you order me to do this?
Source: tatoeba (24847)
Only after a century and a half of confusion was the royal authority restored.
Source: tatoeba (27596)
Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "authority"?
Closest matches include authorization, absolutism, academic expert, acme, adept.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "authority"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.