The phrase "had a right" can be replaced with various synonyms depending on the context it is used in. Some synonyms for "had a right" include "had permission," "had entitlement," "had authority," "had justification," "had a claim," and "had a prerogative." These synonyms convey a sense of privilege or legitimacy to a specific action. For instance, instead of saying "Tom had a right to attend the meeting," one could say "Tom had permission to attend the meeting," or "Tom had authority to attend the meeting." Using synonyms adds variety and clarity to one's writing or speech and helps to avoid repetition.