1
as in thing
something done by someone
judge people by their actions, not by their words
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2
3
as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim
filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her
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4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France
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5
as in behavior
actions plural
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself
observing the actions of mice in various controlled settings helps scientists understand the effects of certain drugs
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6
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the wilderness was tamed by men and women of action
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of action
Trump’s actions so far have dramatically raised uncertainty, at times raising fears about a downturn.
—
Joseph Lawler, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
One of his most divisive actions in leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was the dismantling of USAID, which previously delivered billions of dollars of food and medicine to more than 100 countries.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
The first funerals with caissons will be limited to troops killed in action, recipients of the Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal and high-ranking service members.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 27 May 2025
The report is sent to a committee that decides if further action is necessary.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for action
Joseph Lawler, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
One of his most divisive actions in leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was the dismantling of USAID, which previously delivered billions of dollars of food and medicine to more than 100 countries.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
The first funerals with caissons will be limited to troops killed in action, recipients of the Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal and high-ranking service members.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 27 May 2025
The report is sent to a committee that decides if further action is necessary.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
-
Real Madrid is closing in on Argentina’s next big thing As reported by various outlets, Real Madrid is closing in on Mastantuono after sending a delegation to Buenos Aires last week.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Sick to death of being poor, Lucy ended things with John.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 June 2025
Noun
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The basic plot mirrors Kon Ichikawa’s brutal antiwar classic Fires on the Plain, in which Japanese soldiers are left to starve on the Philippines island of Leyte during the waning days of World War II, and Anderson is serious about political oppression and the power of dissent.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
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Over the years, the sci-fi series has featured many plot elements that seemed supernatural at first, only to have the Doctor inevitably and triumphantly reveal their basis in science and technology by story's end.—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
7 June 2025
Noun
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That 1974 law is cited in many of the lawsuits against the Trump administration's data push.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
4 June 2025
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The legal filing comes less than a year after Eight Mile Style lost its copyright infringement lawsuit against Spotify after five years due to a legal loophole.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
Noun
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At the same time, the Royals grounds crew raced to the field to put on the tarp.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2025
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Defensive end Sam Williams returned to the practice field for the first time without a brace since tearing his ACL last July.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
The women allege a longstanding pattern of such behavior.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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When Manford reported the incident, a supervisor allegedly laughed at her and did not report the behavior to human resources, the lawsuit claims.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
The extent of the advance is unclear, as are Moscow’s ambitions for the assault.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
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How the potential fallout between two of the world's most powerful men could affect U.S. spaceflight ambitions remains to be seen.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Noun
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But Peter Wagner, executive director of the Prison Policy Initiative, says specific numbers aren't as important as simply the act of trying to quantify what incarceration does to families.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
3 June 2025
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As a kid growing up in Macclesfield, Ellis loved MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, and other indie acts.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Now managed by the National Trust, the estate is open to the public, allowing visitors to step inside and experience firsthand the setting of one of literature’s most enduring love stories.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
10 June 2025
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Her story as a young, dedicated fossil collector inspired Swiss director Marcel Barelli, whose own passion for paleontology followed him into adulthood.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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