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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in memorandum
a written communication giving information or directions
a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president
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 directive
In response, Cecil Howard, the associate provost and interim dean of the law school, on Monday issued a message to students, obtained by the Orlando Sentinel, that said the word was not restricted and that the university’s leadership had not issued the directive.
—
Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Civil rights attorneys warn the directive collides with Fourth Amendment protections.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The directive also instructs the Los Angeles Police Department to preserve all evidence related to immigration enforcement operations so it can be reported.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Macdonald cared about team chair Jody Allen’s directives.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Civil rights attorneys warn the directive collides with Fourth Amendment protections.
—Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
The directive also instructs the Los Angeles Police Department to preserve all evidence related to immigration enforcement operations so it can be reported.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Macdonald cared about team chair Jody Allen’s directives.
—Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
-
The lack of communication instructions led family members to make video appeals to any abductors in consultation with the FBI, with Savannah Guthrie urging anyone holding her for firm proof her mother was alive.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
-
How many times after making a mistake does Romero ignore tactical instructions and charge up the pitch in desperation to score a goal or wipe out an opponent?—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those choices are political, in a more general sense, and deserve public deliberation, not technocratic decree.—
Annelise Riles,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
As a rule, any multi-hundred-million-dollar renovation or demolition requires deliberate and collaborative effort, rather than a decree.—
E. Andrew Taylor,
The Conversation,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
South Korean production companies Barunson E&A and Studio N have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop film and series projects for Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, drawing on Studio N’s library of webtoon and web novel intellectual property.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Even so, Elder, in the memorandum to the commission, said a future rise in the number of household shoppers may render the parking inadequate.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Covid-19 bred doubt about government edicts and skepticism about science, provoking an existential battle for truth.—
Richard Edelman,
Time,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Trump edicts weigh on stocks this week Geopolitical risks have weighed on investor sentiment this week.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the court ruling, in August 2023, while returning from the store, Landuga, who lived in Kurakhivka, in Donetsk region, saw Ukrainian soldiers at the home of her son’s godmother and in the barracks of the Military Mining Rescue Unit.—
Daria Tarasova-Markina,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Governor Newsom has indicated that the appropriate response to the court ruling is to focus on federal agents specifically rather than expanding the law to include state officers, suggesting these are separate issues that warrant different approaches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After Renee Good was shot and killed by a Customs and Border Protection agent in Minneapolis, Peak said more than 1,200 protested in the northwest Valley with just two days' notice.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
According to Pratt, she was given a two-day notice when the Aldi near North Hopkins Street and West Sherman Boulevard closed.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The dolls are now available for pre-order on American Girl's website and are expected to ship on Friday, May 1.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Combined, the two mission task orders had an original contract value of $337 million.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Concerned about safety risks and environmental damage, the Blue Mountains City Council temporarily closed access to the rock last month while officials work on a long-term plan — a decision that has prompted debate among residents, conservationists and local businesses that depend on tourism.—
Trista Kurniawan,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In a 2014 editorial, the Times argued the federal ban on the drug should be repealed, and the decision should be left up to the individual states.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
