1
as in instructions
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decrees
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 memorandums
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
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Recent Examples of directives
Estates without clear directives can be subject to lengthy and expensive probate court proceedings, which can consume up to 10% of an estate's value and take months or even years to resolve, Childfree Trust said in its report.
—
Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Gabbard said the president did not ask any questions and did not issue any directives.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The marijuana campaign has challenged many of those directives in court, but judges have largely sided with the state.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Seven security directives totaling over 500 pages have been consolidated into a single, 23-page order.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Smart & Safe Florida filed a lawsuit last month in Leon County circuit court challenging two directives by Byrd’s office to county supervisors of elections.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
The president’s mortgage directives also prompted skepticism from some experts.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Boards should not co-manage the HOA but should allow their managers to carry out board directives.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The most trustworthy professionals engage in regular check-ins that invite dialogue rather than deliver directives or interact with people strategically.
—Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Medora Lee, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
Gabbard said the president did not ask any questions and did not issue any directives.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
The marijuana campaign has challenged many of those directives in court, but judges have largely sided with the state.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
Seven security directives totaling over 500 pages have been consolidated into a single, 23-page order.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 28 Jan. 2026
Smart & Safe Florida filed a lawsuit last month in Leon County circuit court challenging two directives by Byrd’s office to county supervisors of elections.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
The president’s mortgage directives also prompted skepticism from some experts.
—Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Boards should not co-manage the HOA but should allow their managers to carry out board directives.
—Kelly G. Richardson, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026
The most trustworthy professionals engage in regular check-ins that invite dialogue rather than deliver directives or interact with people strategically.
—Britney Porter, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
Noun
-
Those interested can find instructions for submitting a proposal here.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Students who ride the bus will be released directly from the school once the scene is deemed safe, while parents picking up their children are advised to wait for further instructions.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The White House itself has directly issued at least thirty-six orders, decrees, and directives targeting at least a hundred specific individuals and entities with punitive actions.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
15 Jan. 2026
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Satya Nadella rebuilt Microsoft not through top-down decrees but by listening deeply to engineers, customers, and critics.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sheriff's offices in Laurel, McCracken and Pendleton counties, along with police departments in Hickman, Falmouth and Winchester signed memorandums of agreement with ICE in the first month of the year.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
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There are dozens of these interview memorandums.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
2 Jan. 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
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Opportunity to make amends After Heard, appellate courts around California issued conflicting rulings on whether de facto life-without-parole sentences qualify for resentencing.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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The battle over new congressional maps ahead of November’s midterm elections has heated up as primary elections rapidly approach, with various court rulings blocking and approving new maps.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
During last year's record-breaking shutdown, many TSA workers slept in their cars, received eviction notices, lost child care services and sold their blood and plasma as their paychecks were delayed.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Water systems lost pressure, triggering boil-water notices for millions.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Others who were detained, Brooks Jimenez said, were asylum seekers arriving at the local ICE office for routine check-ins to comply with their supervision orders.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
10 Feb. 2026
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Together, dozens of self-driving robots have already logged more than 29,000 sidewalk miles and delivered nearly 28,000 food orders, according to city statistics.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Through Van Der Beek’s wistful performance, viewers were given a window through which to grapple with betrayal, death, heartbreak and a litany of bad decisions.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
When did early action decisions come out?—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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