1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligations
something one must do because of prior agreement
although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperatives
These standouts are not just navigating AI, fragmented landscapes and new growth imperatives.
—
Slma Shelbayah,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
That convergence of national security imperatives and development goals, the World Bank added, could accelerate economic growth in developing economies by expanding access to affordable power and reducing exposure to commodity price shocks.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains, upgrade advanced manufacturing, and invest heavily in strategic technologies, from cutting-edge semiconductors to next-generation 6G connectivity, are framed not merely as economic initiatives, but as imperatives of national security.
—
Yu Jie,
Time,
13 May 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
In a new First Opinion essay, two researchers explain the importance of laboratories like this one, as well as the economic and moral imperatives to protect them.
—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
But there is no description that captures the many sides of the rabbi’s soul, and so Koestenbaum offers a gloriously Sisyphean attempt, a measure of respect for the human in all its biological imperatives and psychological complexity.
—
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
But where those efforts have been driven primarily by cultural imperatives, Prasad sees restoration increasingly as a commercial proposition – and one with global reach.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
National security imperatives now suggest that Iran will go towards nuclear weapons — that their strategy over 20 years of trying to have an open nuclear program that could be monitored by [the International Atomic Energy Agency] was a mistake.
—
Mishal Husain,
Bloomberg,
13 Mar. 2026
Slma Shelbayah,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
That convergence of national security imperatives and development goals, the World Bank added, could accelerate economic growth in developing economies by expanding access to affordable power and reducing exposure to commodity price shocks.
—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains, upgrade advanced manufacturing, and invest heavily in strategic technologies, from cutting-edge semiconductors to next-generation 6G connectivity, are framed not merely as economic initiatives, but as imperatives of national security.
—
Yu Jie,
Time,
13 May 2026
If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries.
—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
In a new First Opinion essay, two researchers explain the importance of laboratories like this one, as well as the economic and moral imperatives to protect them.
—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
9 Apr. 2026
But there is no description that captures the many sides of the rabbi’s soul, and so Koestenbaum offers a gloriously Sisyphean attempt, a measure of respect for the human in all its biological imperatives and psychological complexity.
—
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
But where those efforts have been driven primarily by cultural imperatives, Prasad sees restoration increasingly as a commercial proposition – and one with global reach.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
National security imperatives now suggest that Iran will go towards nuclear weapons — that their strategy over 20 years of trying to have an open nuclear program that could be monitored by [the International Atomic Energy Agency] was a mistake.
—
Mishal Husain,
Bloomberg,
13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperatives
Noun
-
Read the instructions and drop the appropriate amount of hair oil onto your palm.
-
Navigation instructions are presented in plenty of time and with a confident tone.
Noun
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Assisting with payroll tax issues, sales tax audits, and business restructuring to satisfy tax obligations.
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Financial privacy erodes gradually through risk assessments, compliance obligations, information sharing partnerships and international standards presented as technical rather than political.
Noun
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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.
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The age of the Germanic male genius delivering edicts from on high has run its course.
Noun
-
Crypto cannot be excused from the responsibilities that banks and other financial service providers must meet.
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These responsibilities divert attention away from customers, revenue generation and strategic growth.
Noun
-
Brennan argues the records are vital to a potential vindictive-prosecution defense, citing more than 100 Trump statements attacking him and directives to pursue cases without legal basis.
-
The attorneys general challenged several of its directives, including a provision that required state and local officials to collect proof of citizenship from vote-by-mail applicants.
Noun
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The deal would not have satisfied Cuba's spiraling energy needs.
-
But when Erik Spoelstra is strategizing, the needs of Nikola Jovic, for better or worse, are not going to be at the top of the organizational process.
Noun
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Just under 35,000 removal orders have been issued in California from January through May of this year, according to TRAC, a data gathering organization at Syracuse University.
-
Evacuation orders affecting about 300 residents in the Oak Leaf Circle area were downgraded to warnings.
Noun
-
On Friday, Ohtani handed back over pitch-calling duties, communicating with head shakes and nods instead of the PitchCom buttons on his arm.
-
Kiss will officially take over on July 20 and is currently concluding his duties with the Queensland Reds Super Rugby side.
Cite this Entry
“Imperatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperatives. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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