AUTHORITATIVE Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

authoritative

adjective

ə-ˈthȯr-ə-ˌtā-tiv

Definition of authoritative

as in definitive

being the most accurate and apparently thorough this book is considered the most authoritative source on that subject

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in influential

having power over the minds or behavior of others after a couple of authoritative critics panned the movie, the other reviewers rushed to say how awful it was

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in authoritarian

fond of ordering people around she's very authoritative for someone who doesn't actually outrank us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of authoritative Indeed, chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude are simultaneously authoritative-sounding and eager-to-please, a combination that can lead to terrible-yet-seductive advice that many users accept with little to no critical pushback. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 6 Aug. 2026 The Defense Casualty Analysis System serves as the federal government's authoritative public record of war dead and wounded of major conflicts. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026 Crawlability, authoritative content, links, technical performance, and clear page structure remain important. — Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026 Launched in June 2020, Sportico has become the premier destination for professionals and informed readers seeking authoritative news and analysis on the $500 billion global sports industry. — Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for authoritative

Recent Examples of Synonyms for authoritative

Adjective

Two autopsies have been conducted, but neither have yielded a definitive public explanation for Nolan’s manner of death.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
But a separate count by Colombia’s National Institute of Legal Medicine illustrates the continuing difficulty of establishing a definitive death toll.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of definitive

Adjective

Jeanie Buss becomes a Lakers executive In 1999, Jeanie was named executive vice president of business operations and became an increasingly influential figure inside the franchise.

— Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
But the most influential literary genre is the one that clearly doesn’t exist.

— M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of influential

Adjective

As Bukele gained popularity, there were internal discussions on how best to signal the Administration’s concerns about his increasingly authoritarian actions.

— Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2026
The island’s very existence—a prosperous, democratic Chinese society integrated with the West—offers a stinging rebuke to the claim that authoritarian rule is uniquely suited to the Chinese people.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of authoritarian

Adjective

These algorithms rely on geometric complexities that are equally intractable for both classical and quantum architectures.

— Adi Karisik, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Times classical music critic Mark Swed was there to watch, along with many effusive supporters of music director Gianandrea Noseda’s now wandering orchestra.

— Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of classical

Adjective

Will stars in the film as Phil Weston, an unremarkable family man who grew up under the thumb of his domineering dad, Buck (Robert Duvall).

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
That’s a little too farcical for the moment, and the final cut lands more in a place of domineering intrigue.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026

Definition of domineering

Adjective

The results suggest that young people aren’t having conversations about AI literacy — including how to stay safe, how artificial intelligence works and how to figure out whether chatbots are accurate, study coauthor Michael Robb said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Simpson executed the plays called, made good decisions and was accurate.

— Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of accurate

Adjective

As such, there is a tendency among such countries to view Europeans as arrogant and self-serving, perhaps even neo-colonialist, with a desire to at least maintain, or maybe even strengthen, their position of power.

— Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
James, Lord Dalhousie, the arrogant and ruthless Governor General of British India, who had long coveted the riches of Punjab and the Koh-i-Noor, was triumphant.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrogant

Adjective

Today, some are convincing enough to fool experts, helped along by a market where documentation is scarce and comprehensive catalogs and archives are rare.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Receive a comprehensive breakdown of talent showcasing this year by signing up for our Comedy Means Business newsletter at this link.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026