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as in to inaugurate
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies initiated her as Surgeon General before an army of reporters and photographers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word initiate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of initiate are begin, commence, inaugurate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How does the word begin relate to other synonyms for initiate?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for initiate?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When would inaugurate be a good substitute for initiate?

The meanings of inaugurate and initiate largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to initiate?

While the synonyms start and initiate are close in meaning, start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of initiate?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 initiate The Canadian economy is a system with the capacity to initiate emerging value chains without necessarily targeting the U.S. or Canada itself as business destinations. Majeed Javdani, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 Illinois House Republicans recently initiated an effort in state court to change the situation. Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025 Thousands of clinicians, researchers and other University of California employees initiated a three-day, statewide strike on Wednesday over concerns about staffing levels and workers’ rights to raise concerns about working conditions. William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 26 Feb. 2025 In a letter to the Auditor General that is included in the report, the Department of Elder Affairs’ Secretary, Michelle Branham, acknowledged many of the audit’s findings, and said that most of the improvements either were in the works or would be initiated. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • The actress established her career with major roles in Corrina, Corrina (1994) and Waterworld (1995) before Mars and Napoleon Dynamite (2004) introduced her to new audiences.
    Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Italian immigrants most likely brought it to the United States in the 19th century and established it in California in the late 1800s.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While Zero Day is a six-part thriller show, the series does introduce a cybersecurity term not widely known outside tech circles.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Members of the Legislative Jewish Caucus and Bay Area Democrats introduced a bill last month that would require the state Board of Education to adopt standards for ethnic studies by January 2028.
    Molly Gibbs and Grant Stringer Bay Area News Group (TNS), arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Trump started his second term as the oldest person inaugurated as president, at 78 years and 220 days old, with Biden right behind him at 78 years and 61 days old.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Soon after Trump was inaugurated, the federal government froze all grants, including NIH grants.
    Rob Stein, NPR, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Nearly two months after a fiery explosion scattered debris over the Turks and Caicos, SpaceX launched another Starship rocket on Thursday, only to lose contact minutes into the flight as the spacecraft spiraled out of control.
    Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The three-term governor launched Operation Lone Star, a multibillion-dollar initiative that sent over 10,000 police and National Guard soldiers to the border to provide backup to overwhelmed federal Border Patrol agents.
    Anna Giaritelli, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In 2023, she was inducted into the Stanford University Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame.
    Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The Bella Twins were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021.
    Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The stunning natural scenery in the background paired with the sound of the breeze and local wildlife create a peaceful, natural ambience to keep on a second screen.
    Anusha Praturu, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • These actions have been saving lives and driving true culture change, creating a safer future for everyone.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Free catered lunches were introduced to Hollywood’s office culture by Silicon Valley, where companies like Facebook would install shopping mall-style food courts to keep programmers fed and happy.
    Katcy Stephan, Variety, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The City of Charlotte will install signs in the Dilworth and Wilmore neighborhoods starting this March for a new permit program to regulate parking.
    Alexandria Sands, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Kettle & Fire has also spent the past nine years pioneering a return to what the soup and stock aisles used to look like—products filled with fortifying natural ingredients.
    Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Smith, a former newspaper beat reporter who rose to fame by pioneering the art of the sports debate show, has agreed with ESPN on a new five-year, $100 million contract, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC.
    Andrew Greif, NBC News, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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