Antonyms for powers-that-be


Grammar : Noun
Spell : pou-er
Phonetic Transcription : ˈpaʊ ər


Definition of powers-that-be

Origin :
  • c.1300, "ability; ability to act or do; strength, vigor, might," especially in battle; "efficacy; control, mastery, lordship, dominion; legal power or authority; authorization; military force, an army," from Anglo-French pouair, Old French povoir, noun use of the infinitive, "to be able," earlier podir (9c.), from Vulgar Latin *potere, from Latin potis "powerful" (see potent).
  • Whatever some hypocritical ministers of government may say about it, power is the greatest of all pleasures. It seems to me that only love can beat it, and love is a happy illness that can't be picked up as easily as a Ministry. [Stendhal "de l'Amour," 1822]
  • Meaning "one who has power" is late 14c. Meaning "specific ability or capacity" is from early 15c. Meaning "a state or nation with regard to international authority or influence" [OED] is from 1726. Used for "a large number of" from 1660s. Meaning "energy available for work is from 1727. Sense of "electrical supply" is from 1896.
  • Phrase the powers that be is from Rom. xiii:1. As a statement wishing good luck, more power to (someone) is recorded from 1842. A power play in ice hockey so called by 1940. Power failure is from 1911; power steering from 1921.
  • As in governance : noun government
  • As in government : noun management, administration
Example sentences :
  • From what rumour says, we take it that the Powers-that-be are very pleased with the concert.
  • Extract from : « War Letters of a Public-School Boy » by Paul Jones.
  • There is some talk among the powers-that-be of making this a division point.
  • Extract from : « The Long Shadow » by B. M. Bower
  • I had cooked dinner for some of the powers-that-be from Washington, and for dessert I made three most wonderful lemon pies.
  • Extract from : « I Married a Ranger » by Dama Margaret Smith
  • It was believed that the powers-that-be would take every precaution in order to avoid a rupture.
  • Extract from : « The Russian Turmoil » by Anton Ivanovich Denikin
  • Far off in London the powers-that-be were praying that this blonde and bearded Boer could successfully man the imperial breach.
  • Extract from : « An African Adventure » by Isaac F. Marcosson
  • The "powers-that-be" seem to be blind to the fact that a trained spy would not attempt to use a conspicuous camera.
  • Extract from : « Billy Barcroft, R.N.A.S. » by Percy F. Westerman
  • Here, I guess, we're going to wait for the powers-that-be to judge us and give us our sentence.
  • Extract from : « The Raid on the Termites » by Paul Ernst

Synonyms for powers-that-be

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019