authoritative
Americanadjective
-
having due authority; having the sanction or weight of authority.
an authoritative opinion.
- Synonyms:
- official
-
substantiated or supported by documentary evidence and accepted by most authorities in a field.
an authoritative edition of Shakespeare; an authoritative treatment of a subject.
-
having an air of authority; accustomed to exercising authority; positive; peremptory; dictatorial.
said with an authoritative air.
- Synonyms:
- authoritarian , dogmatic
adjective
-
recognized or accepted as being true or reliable
an authoritative article on drugs
-
exercising or asserting authority; commanding
an authoritative manner
-
possessing or supported by authority; official
an authoritative communiqué
Other Word Forms
- authoritatively adverb
- authoritativeness noun
- nonauthoritative adjective
- nonauthoritatively adverb
- nonauthoritativeness noun
- unauthoritative adjective
- unauthoritatively adverb
- unauthoritativeness noun
Etymology
Origin of authoritative
First recorded in 1595–1605; authorit(y) + -ative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Ron Chernow, in his authoritative biography of Hamilton, writes, “theirs was a friendship of unusual ardor,” but regards the lifelong bond between the sisters as evidence against an affair.
“She was welcomed into the prosecution fold as an adviser, strategist, authoritative arbiter on the policy and practices of the Church of Scientology, and advocate for the complaining witnesses,” the motion read.
From Los Angeles Times
For us, and for our father, it is about him making one last stand at being authoritative and in control.
From MarketWatch
To my intense relief, some people said they thought my paper looked authoritative, that they just assumed it was a breaking story and the page contained fresh information.
From BBC
At the time, the UN and some Western nations said that they would only consider a ruling by a court that genocide is taking place as authoritative.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
