Definition of jurisdictionnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun jurisdiction contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of jurisdiction are authority, command, control, dominion, power, and sway. While all these words mean "the right to govern or rule or determine," jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

In what contexts can authority take the place of jurisdiction?

The words authority and jurisdiction can be used in similar contexts, but authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

When can command be used instead of jurisdiction?

The synonyms command and jurisdiction are sometimes interchangeable, but command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

When might control be a better fit than jurisdiction?

In some situations, the words control and jurisdiction are roughly equivalent. However, control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

When is it sensible to use dominion instead of jurisdiction?

While the synonyms dominion and jurisdiction are close in meaning, dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

When is power a more appropriate choice than jurisdiction?

While in some cases nearly identical to jurisdiction, power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

When would sway be a good substitute for jurisdiction?

Although the words sway and jurisdiction have much in common, sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

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 jurisdiction Flock rule changes Flock Safety, the vendor used by all local jurisdictions except for Carlsbad, responded to the recent growing backlash by announcing a series of steps to curb potential abuse. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026 The Environmental Protection Agency has jurisdiction over certain radiation that goes beyond the site boundary of a nuclear facility. Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 That forces them to interact with unknown adults that are outside the jurisdiction of the school. Michele Gile, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Police agencies in Southlake, Coppell, Plano, Richardson, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Austin and other jurisdictions linked McLachlan to thefts as far back as February 2018, federal officials said. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jurisdiction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jurisdiction
Noun
  • Adding insult to injury, the defections came even as GOP hard-liners were ready to paralyze the House over an unrelated dispute with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on funding the government.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 2 Sep. 2026
  • In a footnote to his dissent, Roberts wrote that the underground work on the project – which lower courts had allowed to proceed – addressed the government’s security concerns.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC have all passed similar rules against signing the players, along with penalties against teams for doing so.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fisheries as the sticking point Under EU rules, fishing quotas are based on historical fishing patterns, among other things.
    Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Russian strikes in the Kyiv region damaged 14 warehouses, 16 private houses, three apartment buildings and 16 vehicles, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said Friday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The ruling marks a victory for Anthropic in its monthslong legal battle against the administration over its push to impose guardrails on its powerful AI model Claude, which is used by the military.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when faced with a trade-off between greater control and more effective governance, the Kremlin has consistently chosen greater control.
    Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The next chief executive will need to accelerate growth, improve deposit mobilization and returns, and rebuild confidence around governance and senior-management stability, global brokerage Nomura said in a report on Sunday.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Jurisdiction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jurisdiction. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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