1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority
a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish
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3
as in memorandum
a written communication giving information or directions
a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directive
What the report found In response to the allegations in Minnesota, Abbott issued six directives to the state workforce and human services commissions to identify if Texas had a problem with improper payments, specifically with fraud.
—
Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The transposition of the directive into law across the EU has seen some territories impose obligations around investment in local productions, as well as introduce clauses to protect producer independence and ring-fence rights.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Zibolski’s facial recognition directive, which is dated Friday and went into effect immediately, states that only the criminal investigation division at the Fargo Police Department will use facial recognition to identify suspects.
—April Baumgarten, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Yaroslavsky said her effort is separate but complementary to the mayor’s executive directive.
—City News Service, Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
The transposition of the directive into law across the EU has seen some territories impose obligations around investment in local productions, as well as introduce clauses to protect producer independence and ring-fence rights.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026
Zibolski’s facial recognition directive, which is dated Friday and went into effect immediately, states that only the criminal investigation division at the Fargo Police Department will use facial recognition to identify suspects.
—April Baumgarten, Twin Cities, 26 Mar. 2026
Yaroslavsky said her effort is separate but complementary to the mayor’s executive directive.
—City News Service, Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
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The MorphoScan scale comes with an instruction manual and a USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, but no wall brick.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
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Gardeners should carefully read and follow label instructions and avoid applying treatments when pollinators are most active.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The parties reached a settlement requiring Live Nation to pay enforcement costs and extending the decree by five and a half years to 2025.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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Emancipation for Black Americans did not come through a single divine decree.—
Jesse Jackson Jr,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On Tuesday, Syre announced a memorandum of understanding with ABB, the Swedish-Swiss tech giant that specializes in electrification and automation—both critical to running the plant.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
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The partnership comes as Barunson E&A has been broadening its involvement in earlier-stage development, most recently through a memorandum of understanding with Studio N to develop projects rooted in webtoon and web novel IP.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That motion is pending a ruling.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
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However, even if the NCPC approves the plan, the project can’t move forward due to Leon’s ruling.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Colorado Hospital Association — which opposes the bill — says state laws require all hospitals to screen patients for discounted care, wait six months before garnishing wages, and provide 30 days' notice.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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By late March, hundreds of WARN notices had already been filed nationwide for the year, affecting tens of thousands of workers across technology, media, retail, manufacturing, and transportation.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Coors Field has made Hall of Famers feign injuries, rookies beg for mercy, and used Lorenzen for dental floss after the Phillies devoured, in order, his curve, slider, cutter, changeup and sinker.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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When the populist demagogue Willie Stark orders Burden, journalist turned gumshoe, to dig up dirt on a local judge, Burden demurs; certainly there are no skeletons in the office of the good judge.—
Brenda Wineapple,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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All decisions of the judges regarding this Promotion are final and binding in all respects.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
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Olsson and Garden set a deadline in the summer for a point at which Olsson wouldn’t take any more calls, providing the time and space to make her decision without noise.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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