" authorities "

1: a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field;

  * e.g., " ... the leading authority on neural anatomy "

•  Synonyms : 

•  aces,

•  adepts,

•  artists,

•  cognoscenti,

•  connoisseurs,

•  crackerjacks,

•  dab hands,

•  dabs,

•  experts,

•  fiends,

•  geeks,

•  gurus,

•  hands,

•  hotshots,

•  maestros,

•  masters,

•  mavens,

•  meisters,

•  past masters,

•  proficients,

•  scholars,

•  sharks,

•  sharps,

•  virtuosos,

•  whizzes,

•  wizards

•  Antonyms : 

•  amateurs,

•  inexperts,

•  nonexperts

2: lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation);

  * e.g., " ... the sheriff had authority over the whole county "

•  Synonyms : 

•  administrations,

•  governances,

•  governments,

•  jurisdictions,

•  regimens,

•  regimes,

•  rules

•  Antonyms : 

•  impotences,

•  impotencies

3: the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly;

  * e.g., " ... speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health "

•  Synonyms : 

•  clouts,

•  credits,

•  hefts,

•  influences,

•  ins,

•  juices,

•  leverages,

•  pulls,

•  sways,

•  weights

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field;

  * e.g., " ... the leading authority on neural anatomy "

•  Synonyms : 

•  ace,

•  adept,

•  artist,

•  cognoscente,

•  connoisseur,

•  crackerjack,

•  dab,

•  dab hand,

•  expert,

•  fiend,

•  geek,

•  guru,

•  hand,

•  hotshot,

•  maestro,

•  master,

•  maven,

•  meister,

•  past master,

•  proficient,

•  scholar,

•  shark,

•  sharp,

•  virtuoso,

•  whiz,

•  wizard

•  Antonyms : 

•  amateur,

•  inexpert,

•  nonexpert

2: lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation);

  * e.g., " ... the sheriff had authority over the whole county "

•  Synonyms : 

•  administration,

•  governance,

•  government,

•  jurisdiction,

•  regime,

•  regimen,

•  rule

•  Antonyms : 

•  impotence,

•  impotency,

•  powerlessness

3: the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly;

  * e.g., " ... speaks with a persuasive authority on matters of public health "

•  Synonyms : 

•  clout,

•  credit,

•  heft,

•  in,

•  influence,

•  juice,

•  leverage,

•  pull,

•  sway,

•  weight

•  Antonyms : 

•  inconclusiveness,

•  ineffectiveness,

•  ineffectuality,

•  ineffectualness