in authority

ADJECTIVE

responsible

Synonyms

STRONGEST

answerable culpable guilty liable pledged subject

WEAK

at fault at the helm authoritative bonded bound bound to carrying the load censurable chargeable compelled constrained contracted decision-making devolving on duty-bound engaged executive exposed fettered hampered held high in control incumbent minding the store obligated obliged on the hook open susceptive sworn to tied to blame under contract under obligation

Antonyms

STRONGEST

innocent right unaccountable

WEAK

excused exempt free immature immune irresponsible untrustworthy

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.

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in authority

He said: "The queue was beginning to get unsafe when someone in authority obviously made the decision to forget about security checks and just let us all through."

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

"People in authority lie," the government official continued, adding that people must act as "the CEOs of our own health."

From Barron's ● Jan. 15, 2026

Asked if that meant he could not rule out that there might be people in the party that might have spoken to him since his arrest, he added: "Nobody in authority."

From BBC ● Nov. 24, 2025

The effect has been to weaken public faith in authority more widely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2025

If someone in authority noticed the error, if they delivered a supply of pills to her, she thought defiantly, she would pretend.

From "Son" by Lois Lowry

in authority

Example Sentences

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