Adjectives For Authority

Discover the most popular adjectives for describing authority, complete with example sentences to guide your usage.

Updated on March 16, 2024

Choosing the right adjective to describe authority can subtly shift its meaning, reflecting different dimensions of power and governance. A local authority suggests community-level administration, close to the people it serves. Conversely, a central authority implies a more top-down approach, hinting at a consolidated power center. When we talk about political authority, we're delving into the realm of policy-making and governance. A supreme authority carries a sense of ultimate power, often undisputed and overarching. Meanwhile, legal authority emphasizes the power through the lens of law and legality, and public authority hints at a body serving the public interest. Each adjective paints a unique picture of power's nature and influence. Discover the full spectrum of nuances by exploring our comprehensive list of adjectives linked to authority.

local	The local authority has been very helpful in providing support to the community.
political	The election gave him the political authority to make major changes.
central	The central authority has the power to make decisions that affect the entire organization.
supreme	The supreme authority of the law ensures fairness and justice for all.
legal	The police have legal authority to detain suspects.
public	The public authority has the power to regulate the use of public spaces.
royal	The king exercised his royal authority to pardon the prisoner.
higher	I need to consult with a higher authority before I can make that decision.
moral	The headteacher has moral authority over her students.
divine	The priest spoke with divine authority
highest	The highest authority in the land is the President.
civil	The civil authority cracked down on the illegal protests.
legislative	The constitution delegates legislative authority to the Congress.
absolute	His decision was made with absolute authority
competent	The matter was referred to the competent authority for further action.

full	The head of the department has full authority to make decisions.
executive	The President enjoys a great deal of executive authority
final	The judge had final authority over the case.
parental	The parents have parental authority over their children.
ultimate	The principal had the ultimate authority over the students.
religious	The religious authority denounced the sacrilegious act.
judicial	The judicial authority issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiff.
ecclesiastical	The Pope exercised his ecclesiastical authority to excommunicate the heretical bishop.
legitimate	The legitimate authority in this situation is the police officer.
federal	The federal authority has jurisdiction over all matters relating to the Constitution.
spiritual	She wielded significant spiritual authority as the leader of the monastery.
papal	The Catholic Church maintains the papal authority of the pope.
sovereign	The sovereign authority of the state was challenged by the rebellious factions.
administrative	The principal, acting with administrative authority decided the matter.
military	The military authority imposed martial law in the region.

governmental	The governmental authority has the power to regulate businesses.
statutory	The agency acted pursuant to its statutory authority
imperial	The Roman emperor's imperial authority extended throughout the empire.
proper	The proper authority has approved the request.
constitutional	The President of the United States has the constitutional authority to declare war.
external	The external authority was consulted to resolve the dispute.
traditional	The village elder holds traditional authority in the community.
sole	The king has sole authority to grant pardons.
formal	The principal exercised formal authority over the students.
british	In order to maintain British authority the garrison was stationed at the fort.
making
regulatory	The court suspended the regulatory authority's decision to impose fines.
superior	The decision was made by a superior authority
lawful	The police officer acted with lawful authority when he arrested the suspect.
sufficient	The manager intervened with sufficient authority to quell the disturbance.

independent	The Supreme Court is seen as an independent authority in the United States.
centralized	The centralized authority of the government was responsible for maintaining order.
paternal	The child respected the paternal authority of his father.
chief	The chief authority on the subject is Dr. Smith.
secular	The secular authority was primarily concerned with maintaining social order and preserving the status quo.
equal	The two leaders met as equals, each with equal authority over their respective domains.
appropriate	The appropriate authority approved the project after a thorough review.
male	The male authority figure was admired by all.
monetary	The monetary authority has decided to raise interest rates.
official	The official authority declared the news.
patriarchal	The patriarchal authority of the father figure was unquestioned in the household.
discretionary	The judge's discretionary authority allowed her to impose a lesser sentence.
less	The changed regulation gives less authority to the local government.
temporal	The bishop exerted his temporal authority over the region.
scriptural	Many denominations rely upon scriptural authority as the basis for their beliefs.

unlimited	The dictator wielded unlimited authority in the country.
exclusive	The President has the exclusive authority to appoint Supreme Court justices.
limited	The committee has limited authority to make decisions on behalf of the organization.
necessary	He was the person endowed with the necessary authority to sign the contract.
apostolic	The bishop spoke with apostolic authority
eminent	The committee of eminent authority will meet next week.
arbitrary	The king wielded arbitrary authority over his people.
supervisory	The supervisory authority has the power to investigate complaints and take enforcement action.
biblical	The teachings of the Bible carry biblical authority and should be followed diligently.
municipal	The municipal authority has the power to levy taxes and provide essential services.

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