Definition of initiatenext
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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 Amazon’s MeshClaw can initiate code deployments, triage emails, and interact with apps such as Slack, according to people familiar with the matter. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026 In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2026 Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who initiated Steyer’s Santa Ana visit, thanked Delilah for the opportunity. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Referee Lauren Aldrich was called over the video review, and after a long review, it was determined that Borges had initiated the foul. Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • Dylan's older brother, Ashten, has since established a GoFundMe to help support Dylan and his family pay their rent during this challenging time, noting that Dylan has lost out on work and income during his recovery.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
  • The board’s five-part plan establishes a timeline to follow and directs district staff to execute some steps, including naming the new chief at the start of the new school year and the price tag of the search.
    Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • The legislation, one of the priority bills Democrats introduced with hopes to potentially fold into the budget, ultimately did not advance.
    P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • The opening episode of the AMC dramedy introduces an algorithm that’s a gift to stalkers everywhere.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • The tally arrived around the same time that the Grammys inaugurated a category that connects electronic dance music and pop, as the two have been crossing over for decades.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
  • In 2015, the VALIE EXPORT Center Linz was inaugurated in a former tobacco factory in her hometown to foster engagement with media and performance art.
    News Desk, Artforum, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • The restaurant will be launching lunch eventually—with, naturally, Sunday roasts, a pub trapping as proper and totemic as malt vinegar and newsprint, or pastry with a piscine head sticking out.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • But the drama over the CoC comes as City Hall continues beefing up its work to combat homelessness, including with the Housing Gateway Program, which launched earlier this year.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Marking the 20th anniversary of the group, the brothers recently got their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and they were formally inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 May 2026
  • The public voted her into the Advertising Week Walk of Fame on New York’s Madison Avenue, making the Morton Salt Girl the first female icon to be inducted.
    Lisa Gutierrez May 19, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Wilson worked alongside stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn and the Oscar de la Renta team to create a custom gown featuring tiny Japanese cherry blossoms around the neckline and scattered throughout the design, according to Vogue.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
  • On the planet, the Mandalorians encounter Gideon, who is revealed to have created clones of himself.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • The comments came two weeks after the House rejected DeSantis’ push to pass bills to expand vaccine exemptions for children entering public schools and to install consumer-friendly regulations on artificial intelligence products and companies.
    Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
  • Designers were clever enough to install a series of waterfalls that spill into the pool to cover up traffic noise from the pool’s location.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The late Daniel Kahneman, whose pioneering work in behavioral economics reshaped finance, showed how confirmation bias leads us away from good judgment, both in ordinary life and in investment decisions.
    Thierry Brunel, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Australia will receive a $5 million federal grant to launch a pioneering research team for children’s health.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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