How to use the English word authoritative in English

 The English word "authoritative" is an adjective used to describe something or someone that is reliable, commanding, and deserving of respect or obedience due to expertise, power, or official status. It implies a sense of having authority.

Here's a breakdown of its meanings and how to use it:

1. Possessing or Exhibiting Authority; Having a Commanding Presence

This refers to someone or something that has the power or right to give orders, make decisions, or influence. It suggests confidence, knowledge, and a demeanor that inspires trust or obedience.

• Example: "The principal has an authoritative voice that silences the noisy students." (Her voice commands respect and attention.)
• Example: "She adopted an authoritative tone when addressing the unruly crowd." (Her tone conveyed her position of power.)
• Example: "His authoritative manner immediately conveyed that he was in charge." (His demeanor showed he had control.)

2. Reliable, Trustworthy, or Definitive (especially of information or sources)

This is a very common usage, referring to information, sources, or texts that are highly credible because they come from an expert, an official body, or have been thoroughly researched and verified.

• Example: "For medical advice, you should consult an authoritative source like a doctor or a reputable health organization." (Reliable and expert source)
• Example: "The encyclopedia is considered an authoritative reference work on many subjects." (Definitive and trustworthy)
• Example: "We need an authoritative statement from the government regarding the new policy." (An official and final statement)
• Example: "His book on ancient history is the most authoritative text available." (The most definitive and accurate)

3. Exercising Power or Influence in an Assertive or Confident Way

This usage overlaps with the first, emphasizing the active exertion of authority.

• Example: "The coach made an authoritative decision to bench the star player for disciplinary reasons." (A confident decision made from a position of power)
• Example: "The police officer gave authoritative instructions to clear the area." (Instructions that must be obeyed)

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Common Collocations (Words often used with "authoritative"):

• Authoritative source/information/report/text/guide: Emphasizes reliability and credibility.
• Authoritative figure/voice/tone/manner/leadership: Emphasizes commanding presence and power.
• Authoritative decision/ruling/statement: Emphasizes a definitive judgment or declaration.

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Words with Similar Meanings (Synonyms):

• Credible, reliable, trustworthy, dependable, definitive, accurate (when referring to information)
• Commanding, powerful, dominant, imposing, forceful, decisive (when referring to a person or their manner)
• Official, legitimate, recognized (when referring to status or approval)

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Opposite Meanings (Antonyms):

• Unreliable, untrustworthy, dubious, questionable (for information)
• Hesitant, tentative, weak, indecisive (for demeanor or action)

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Example Sentences in Various Contexts:

• "The court's authoritative ruling ended the long-standing legal dispute."
• "Her years of experience made her an authoritative speaker on the subject of climate change."
• "You need to be more authoritative if you want your team to respect your leadership."
• "The research paper cited several authoritative studies to support its claims."
• "The CEO delivered an authoritative address to the shareholders, outlining the company's future plans."

In summary, "authoritative" conveys a sense of strong credibility, expertise, or rightful power, making it a powerful adjective to describe sources of information, individuals, or their actions.