Definition of directionnext
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as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of direction Mexico’s defensive performance has been credited to the direction of Rafa Márquez, a former Barcelona player who is one of Mexico’s assistant coaches. Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Strikeouts still remain an issue for Jones, and the Yankees had been reluctant to use him against southpaws, but the 25-year-old has taken steps in the right direction. Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026 To vote in free elections without a gun to their head, to walk into a balloting place without fear of reprisal decide the direction of this country. Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 His team is currently studying just how far in advance of the boot meeting the ball that a direction might be tipped. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
Noun
  • Recent policies that State Shield has supported include a Tennessee bill requiring the state board of education to adopt age-appropriate instruction related to communism and a Louisiana resolution encouraging economic ties with Taiwan.
    Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
  • Plants need a good root system to hold onto water, and post-establishment watering instructions are important to follow.
    Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Andrea Davis, president and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, has spent 25 years planning emergency response and crisis management for organizations including Disney, Walmart, the FIFA World Cup and Times Square's New Year's Eve celebration.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Water management plans must include estimates of water usage, discharge locations and plans to minimize water demand.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • Atop the Go board there lies a compass whose dials swing chaotically.
    Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 30 June 2026
  • The Ti-Trailblazer takes a unique approach by making a compass its main feature and building 10 additional tools around it.
    Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • In January, a World Economic Forum report estimated that new technology, alongside other economic and demographic trends, will create 170 million roles and displace 92 million others by 2030.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • This trend, however, sparks concerns about a looming leadership crisis.
    Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The Secret Service said earlier this evening that all attendees who evacuated the venue due to orders to shelter from approaching severe storms would have to go through security screenings again.
    Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • As the order to evacuate was played over loudspeakers on the National Mall, some people appeared to be standing in place, talking with those around them and not exiting the area, while others were walking toward exits.
    Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Just over a month later, on June 1, a judge lifted mandatory supervision for Paul's parent time with Ever.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Assembly Bill 3216 requires all school districts to enforce rules prohibiting student use of phones while under supervision.
    Austin Turner, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Over decades, the tides shift surrounding sand while marine life, like algae, grows over the device, camouflaging it into the natural ocean environment.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • Season after season, year after year, the tides have come in and out of New York Harbor long before the name New York had ever been spoken; Lenape dugouts crossed these currents.
    Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The memorandum includes a pledge by Iran to never purchase or construct nuclear weapons — a vow the Islamic Republic has made multiple times before, including by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a religious edict issued by the late supreme leader and in the Obama-era nuclear accord.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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