DIRECTIVE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

directive

noun

Definition of directive

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

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

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 Following a directive from Netanyahu’s office, the airline suspended its flights Wednesday until the investigation is complete, the Israeli Transportation Ministry said. — Gerry Shih, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026 How could one holy book give its readers such seemingly contradictory directives? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 Hegseth's directive apparently would not remove the designation from faculty members who are currently tenured. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 On the heels of that directive, the bureau issued new guidance that prohibited staff from granting requests for clothing accommodations for those inmates and barred the use of federal dollars for medical interventions. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for directive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive

Noun

According to Dutch News, neither officials in Curaçao nor the Dutch government have said where the instruction originated.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
However, considering the nature of the investigation and Chen’s access to children through his music instruction, sheriff’s officials said investigators want to ensure no inappropriate contact with a child has gone unreported.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

The second decree was intended to make residential leases automatically renewable by tenants.

— JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
The center-right Basque party and the tiny Coalición Canaria, whose support the government also needed, also voted against the second decree after backing the first one.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of decree

Noun

Under the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed in June that collapsed within days, Iran's nuclear program was meant to be discussed over a 60-day period.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2026
Consider, for instance, what happened to the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed in June in hopes of stopping the war.

— Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of memorandum

Noun

The edict is to transform the operating model when the market fundamentally shifts so the company can thrive in a changing environment.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

Both residents and politicians fear the court ruling would tarnish Kosovo's independence struggle.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
As the only Supreme Court case to date involving censorship in school libraries, Pico, while a limited ruling, did set out general guidelines still used today.

— Susan Farrell, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruling

Noun

According to the lawsuits, more than six months before the apartment’s one-year lease expired at the end of July 2025, Cathy and Salvatore gave the renters notice.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 8 Oct. 2026
The allegations come after the California Department of Human Resources sent a notice in February 2022 outlining that departments cannot approve employee requests to regularly work from out-of-state locations.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of notice

Noun

But the equipment's software flaw allows them to be put back in the order they were cast, according to a report by researchers who discovered it in 2022.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
Flohr, with a fleet of almost 200 planes and an order for up to 160 new Bombardier jets over the next decade, doesn’t see any turbulence on the horizon.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

In emergency decisions, by contrast, the president has a much stronger track record of wins.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
There was angst among fans about Suamataia being held from the game, followed by blowback for questioning coach Andy Reid’s decision.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of decision

Browse Nearby Words

directions

directive

directives

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of directive

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes