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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 Agencies may not conduct large-scale reorganizations and reductions in force in blatant disregard of Congress's mandates, and a president may not initiate large-scale executive branch reorganization without partnering with Congress. July 8, CBS News, 8 July 2025 And it’s understood that MLB, and surely Nike itself, initiated this change out of a sense that uniform options had gotten out of control with no real limits or guidelines. Vahe Gregorian july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2025 The officer was attempting a traffic stop on a vehicle that fled from the scene just after 5 p.m. on July 6, initiating the chase, the Greendale police department said in a news release. Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 7 July 2025 The water initiates a chemical reaction that lasts about six hours. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • Not long before the end, the daring writer-director introduces an idea that should have been established from the jump: As a child, Seti struggled with a speech impediment.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 July 2025
  • The main character of an upcoming DC Universe movie, Kara is the extraterrestrial cousin to Superman, rightful owner of the wily super-dog Krypto — and, as the Man of Steel and his robot friend Four (voiced by Alan Tudyk) establish, a party animal.
    Jack Smart, People.com, 11 July 2025
Verb
  • According to the lawsuit, Thomas was introduced by women's swimming head coach Mike Schnur to the women's swimmers during a team meeting in Fall 2019 as their incoming teammate.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • Despite the Maxton Hall books publishing in 2018, more readers will now be introduced to the books for the first time.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • That August, Hoffman sat for Giard and inaugurated the project.
    Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 June 2025
  • The capture of this first whaler on June 22 inaugurated the Shenandoah’s most spectacular run, unlike any the raider had enjoyed during its eight months seeking out and destroying Union merchant vessels.
    Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Russia launched thousands of drones into Ukraine in June, and Ukraine has continued to make efforts to fight back.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 5 July 2025
  • Originally launched in 1989 as a handbag and wallet supplier, the company has grown to successfully launch everything from diaper bags to long-haul trunk suitcases—all with quality, durability, and functionality at the forefront.
    Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • The ministry said he was set to be inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame this fall.
    Bob Smietana, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • In 2014, The Whispers were inducted into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Either way, the ceramic mineral complex uses negative ions to seal the hair’s cuticle, locking in moisture while creating long-lasting curls.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 1 July 2025
  • This card asks you to retreat, reflect, and create space for healing.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System, or MTS, has a contract with Clear Channel to handle getting the contracts and putting on the wraps, which take about a day to install.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • The company has already worked with Mercedes-Benz to install charging stations at locations across the U.S.
    Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • At Evans High School, Children’s Home Society of Florida and the University of Central Florida pioneered the state’s first Community Partnership School in 2012.
    Andry Sweet, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • Thorium was pioneered in America decades ago, but has been taken up by China to great success.
    Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.

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