as in overseeing
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Dissimilar Words
as in commanding
Related Words
1
as in channeling
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway
the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in instructing
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in supervising
to look after and make decisions about
the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in guiding
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front
the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directing
Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
That record-breaking win made Swift the first artist to nab a trophy in the category with a sole directing credit for their own video.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Co-developed and co-directed by Jeremy Ohringer and Amelia Hefferon, original music was written by Ethan Korvne and Emily Hayman, and assistant directed by Aidan McGuire, a senior directing and dramaturgy major.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
But smart casting, witty writing, lively directing, and artful character development have also yielded the rare superhero riff that, as Kovak puts it, finds the human underneath.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Ratner’s real power lay less in directing than in financing, a career built on a proficiency for cultivating relationships with powerful men.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Anderson is currently penning the sequel to the Disney live-action hit Cruella, with Emma Stone starring and producing, Craig Gillespie directing and Marc Platt and Kristin Burr producing.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
In addition to those nominations, he was nominated 12 other times at the Oscars and won three Golden Globe Awards for acting and directing.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
The filmmaker had initially planned to focus just on directing, but then the actress cast as the film’s fourth lead had to drop out.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Ben Croll, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Firebrand director Aïnouz is directing from a script written by long-time Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator Efthimis Filippou (The Lobster), which is inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 drama Fists in the Pocket.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Several students protested the club in December, claiming the program’s outside influence violates a section of the Equal Access Act prohibiting people outside a school from directing conduct, controlling or regularly attending student groups.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Among his directing works are the adaptation of Joe Hill novel Horns that starred Daniel Radcliffe, campy hit Piranha 3D and the 2019 crocodile thriller Crawl.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2024, lawmakers passed Wood’s bill directing the Fish and Wildlife Department to conduct a study to inform a statewide cleanup strategy for cannabis grows.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Jackson is also vying for the president’s favor, even directing a slice of his roughly $4 million cable ad buy to Washington and Palm Beach — a clear bid to catch the president’s eye.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
But, first, the filmmaker is directing Russell in Michelob ULTRA’s new Super Bowl advertisement, which also happens to star Maverick’s very own Pullman.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Some of the leaders of the new nonprofit were also involved in directing $110 million from private philanthropy in the past year to projects that lost funding from USAID.
—Thalia Beaty, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The creative has also dipped her foot into directing, working most closely with her fiancé, musician Finneas O’Connell.
—Anna Tingley, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
That record-breaking win made Swift the first artist to nab a trophy in the category with a sole directing credit for their own video.
—Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Co-developed and co-directed by Jeremy Ohringer and Amelia Hefferon, original music was written by Ethan Korvne and Emily Hayman, and assistant directed by Aidan McGuire, a senior directing and dramaturgy major.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
But smart casting, witty writing, lively directing, and artful character development have also yielded the rare superhero riff that, as Kovak puts it, finds the human underneath.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Ratner’s real power lay less in directing than in financing, a career built on a proficiency for cultivating relationships with powerful men.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
Anderson is currently penning the sequel to the Disney live-action hit Cruella, with Emma Stone starring and producing, Craig Gillespie directing and Marc Platt and Kristin Burr producing.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
In addition to those nominations, he was nominated 12 other times at the Oscars and won three Golden Globe Awards for acting and directing.
—Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
The filmmaker had initially planned to focus just on directing, but then the actress cast as the film’s fourth lead had to drop out.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
Established in that pivotal year of 2018, the non-profit provides entry-level training for women in directing, screenwriting, production, and post-production, alongside financial support and mentorship.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
Firebrand director Aïnouz is directing from a script written by long-time Yorgos Lanthimos collaborator Efthimis Filippou (The Lobster), which is inspired by Marco Bellocchio’s 1965 drama Fists in the Pocket.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026
Several students protested the club in December, claiming the program’s outside influence violates a section of the Equal Access Act prohibiting people outside a school from directing conduct, controlling or regularly attending student groups.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Among his directing works are the adaptation of Joe Hill novel Horns that starred Daniel Radcliffe, campy hit Piranha 3D and the 2019 crocodile thriller Crawl.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
In 2024, lawmakers passed Wood’s bill directing the Fish and Wildlife Department to conduct a study to inform a statewide cleanup strategy for cannabis grows.
—Rachel Becker, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Jackson is also vying for the president’s favor, even directing a slice of his roughly $4 million cable ad buy to Washington and Palm Beach — a clear bid to catch the president’s eye.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 7 Feb. 2026
But, first, the filmmaker is directing Russell in Michelob ULTRA’s new Super Bowl advertisement, which also happens to star Maverick’s very own Pullman.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Some of the leaders of the new nonprofit were also involved in directing $110 million from private philanthropy in the past year to projects that lost funding from USAID.
—Thalia Beaty, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directing
Noun
-
There was little jockeying among front-runners, as the first-place finisher took a commanding lead early on and never let off the gas.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Loud, commanding — and respected.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Conveying quiet luxury requires channeling a certain palette of hues and tones to match that mood.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Feb. 2026
-
In this case, that meant channeling Looney Tunes (hence the sticks of dynamite), using Wes Anderson-style whip pans, and having Big Poe run Saint Chroma over with his car.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, Elordi’s Heathcliff collars and chains Oliver’s Isabella herself, instructing her to bark like a dog.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Parent Teacher Association officials in one of the wealthiest school districts in the country hosted a training session last month instructing families on how to respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to Grotewold, every table and bar seat was filled with people ordering multiple rounds of the normally $25 dish.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Invoking the Constitution and Scripture, the Texas district court judge wrote a scathing opinion ordering the release of 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father after the two were detained outside their home in Minneapolis in January.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And for supervising sound editor Al Nelson, now Oscar-nominated for his work on the film, that meant getting up close and personal to the powerful cars whizzing around corners on the tracks.—
Beatrice Verhoeven,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
These workers keep companies running smoothly, often supervising multiple teams, the report says.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At a program unaccustomed to recent success, which has two winning seasons in its 20 years as a Division I program, second-year Coach John Shulman has the Bears aiming higher that regular-season accolades.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Hoosier Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
My guiding principle is not ideology, but outcomes — what works, what is fair and what measurably improves the quality of life for the people of Mecklenburg County.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The podcast paints Jordan as an increasingly controlling and abusive on-and-off-again boyfriend of Arceneaux's who at one point gave her three pages of rules to follow, like sharing social media passwords and her location.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Rousseau is a notoriously controlling and meticulous leader, obsessed with optics and strict about the physical fitness of his members.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directing. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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