authoritative
authoritative — adjective
1. behaving with the calm certainty of someone used to being in charge, so that oth
behaving with the calm certainty of someone used to being in charge, so that other people naturally listen and do what you say.
The new principal spoke in a calm, authoritative voice that quieted the noisy hallway at once.
authoritative + voice describing manner of speaking
Captain Reyes gave the crew an authoritative nod, and they moved into position without a single question.
authoritative + nod / gesture
Dr. Lin has an authoritative manner with her young patients that makes them sit still for the injection.
When the fire alarm went off, the security guard took an authoritative tone and led everyone safely down the stairs.
Xander is only twelve, but she has an authoritative presence on the basketball court that older players respect.
- commanding
stresses the visible power to make people listen; slightly more theatrical.
- assertive
focuses on standing up for your views; not necessarily senior in rank.
- self-assured
calm confidence in oneself; does not require power over others.
文法句型
authoritative + noun (voice, tone, manner, presence)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or a feature of how they speak or act (voice, tone, manner, nod, presence). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense describes HOW someone behaves, not WHAT a book or document contains.
常見錯誤
2. (of a book, study, expert, or piece of information) so thorough and reliable on
(of a book, study, expert, or piece of information) so thorough and reliable on its subject that scholars and readers treat it as the standard work to consult.
Professor Mira's biography of Beethoven is widely seen as the most authoritative account of the composer's life.
authoritative + account / biography
Before booking the trip, Diego checked an authoritative travel guide for safety advice on hiking the volcano.
authoritative + guide as a trusted reference
The journal publishes authoritative studies on climate change that policy makers around the world cite.
For accurate spelling, Mr. Park always tells his students to check an authoritative dictionary rather than a random website.
The museum's website is the most authoritative source of information about the ancient coins on display.
- definitive
treated as the final word on the subject, leaving little room for further versions.
- reliable
more general; means information you can trust, but not necessarily the leading source.
- scholarly
stresses careful academic research; may be authoritative without being widely known.
- unreliable
cannot be trusted to give correct information.
- anecdotal
based on personal stories rather than thorough evidence.
文法句型
authoritative + noun (source, account, study, guide, biography)
用法筆記
Subject is usually a written or recorded work, an organisation, or an expert recognised in their field. Distinguish from sense 1 (about manner): this sense is about being trustworthy as a source of facts. Often used with the superlative ('the most authoritative...').