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directive

noun

Definition of directivenext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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3
as in memorandum
a written communication giving information or directions a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president

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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 Nesvik’s directive will guide how that new rule is put into action, according to a Thursday statement from the Interior Department, which includes the Fish and Wildlife Service. — Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Nesvik's directive will guide how that new rule is put into action, according to a Thursday statement from the Interior Department, which includes the Fish and Wildlife Service. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 The president has signed directives to change the names of geographic areas including the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America and, more recently, Lake Ontario to Lake of America. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026 Marquez stated that the directive does not impact public access to physical courtrooms across Colorado. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
  1. instruction
  2. decree
  3. memorandum
  4. edict
  5. ruling
  6. notice
  7. order
  8. decision
Noun
  • Each package contains cooking instructions such as cook time and preferred cooking method.
    — Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Public libraries offer free SHSAT books with instructions, explanations, and complete sample tests, along with free online tutoring.
    — Wai Wah Chin, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • The decree was group portraits only — none of Holmes alone — with a very specific handful of people who were participating in the shoot.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a decree on Thursday increasing benefits of his flagship welfare program by 15%, weeks before the first round of the presidential elections.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of decree
Noun
  • The memorandum also raised questions about the board’s oversight of district spending and its relationships with outside contractors.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Israeli fusion company nT-Tao and US nuclear developer Orion Nuclear Energy Corporation have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore deploying nT-Tao’s compact fusion power system at sites across the United States.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of memorandum
Noun
  • The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, OutKick explained how Magnus undermined his own edict and vision by hiring back Stan Verrett to host a throwaway show on NFL Network.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of edict
Noun
  • The decision overturned a lower court’s January 2022 ruling in Abascal’s favor, according to local outlet El Confidencial.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The high court affirmed that the Missouri congressional map passed in 2022, which gives Republicans a 6-2 advantage over Democrats, should be used for the November election in a per curiam ruling.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruling
Noun
  • The problem does not affect the car seat’s safety performance when it is properly secured in a vehicle or attached to a stroller, according to the recall notice.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Those categories include Black, Latino, Native American, Alaska Native and Pacific Islander students, according to the UC enrollment report cited in the notice.
    — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of notice
Noun
  • Guests, in no particular order, include Mahershala Ali, Billy Crystal, Pete Davidson, Robby Hoffman, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Paul McCartney, Seth Meyers, Tom Morello, John Oliver, Bernie Sanders, Bruce Springsteen, and Howard Stern.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The news outlets sued, and a judge granted a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to restore their access.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • The repeal’s effect on power companies’ present-day decisions – which plants to continue to operate, what to build and with what pollution controls built in – affects the electricity prices consumers pay now and over the coming decades.
    — Akshaya Jha, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Her home isn’t in the highway’s path, but she was still baffled by council’s decision.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of decision

Browse Nearby Words

directions
directive
directives
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Cite this Entry

“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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