authoritative

adjective

au·​thor·​i·​ta·​tive ə-ˈthȯr-ə-ˌtā-tiv How to pronounce authoritative (audio)
ȯ-, 
-ˈthär-
Synonyms of authoritative
1
: having, marked by, or proceeding from authority
authoritative church doctrines
an authoritative decision
an authoritative manner
2
: possessing recognized or evident authority : clearly accurate or knowledgeable
an authoritative critique
an authoritative source of information
authoritatively adverb
authoritativeness noun

Synonyms of authoritative

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Examples of authoritative in a Sentence

The book is an authoritative guide to the city's restaurants. His manner is polite but authoritative. She addressed the group with an authoritative voice.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Because these procedures can be incredibly complex, each chamber of Congress has a parliamentarian who provides authoritative, objective, and nonpartisan guidance on how rules and precedents should be interpreted and applied. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The vulnerability occurs when a coding agent with permission to run shell commands treats the file as authoritative setup documentation. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 Others see it as an affront to their own authoritative knowledge of the city. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026 This movement is composed of various factions, as Laura Field has distilled in her authoritative work Furious Minds. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for authoritative

Word History

Etymology

authority + -ative

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of authoritative was in 1606

Rhymes for authoritative

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Browse Nearby Words

authoritarianism
authoritative
authority
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authoritative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authoritative. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

authoritative

adjective
au·​thor·​i·​ta·​tive ə-ˈthär-ə-ˌtāt-iv How to pronounce authoritative (audio)
ȯ-, 
-ˈthȯr-
: having or coming from authority
authoritatively adverb
authoritativeness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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