Synonyms of initiative

initiative

noun

i-ˈni-shə-tiv 

as in ambition

readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity

the sentry showed remarkable initiative and uncommon bravery in foiling the terrorist attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambition
• action
• enterprise
• drive
• spirit
• aggressiveness
• vigor
• hustle
• energy
• go
• gumption
• grit
• spunk
• assertiveness
• killer instinct
• starch
• pluck
• self-reliance
• vitality
• ambitiousness
• pep
• hardihood
• overambitiousness
• snap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inertia
• passivity
• reluctance
• inactivity
• hesitation
• timidity
• diffidence
• lethargy
• laziness
• indolence
• faintheartedness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of initiative

Room for Disagreement Collins has opposed Trump on upwards of a half-dozen major initiatives and worked behind the scenes to temper him on multiple other occasions. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

If passed, the ballot initiative would require the city to continue funding the department at the same average percentage of the general fund it was funded at in the decade before the initiative was placed on the ballot. — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

To support this initiative, Arvind recently named Imogen Nulty-Verstaeten design director for the EU. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

This is transforming enterprise AI from a technology initiative to an organizational one. — Kazuhiro Gomi, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing initiative

• on one's own initiative