Definition of IMPERATIVE

Choose the Right Synonym for imperative

Adjective

masterful, domineering, imperious, peremptory, imperative mean tending to impose one's will on others. masterful implies a strong personality and ability to act authoritatively. her masterful personality soon dominated the movement domineering suggests an overbearing or arbitrary manner and an obstinate determination to enforce one's will. children controlled by domineering parents imperious implies a commanding nature or manner and often suggests arrogant assurance. an imperious executive used to getting his own way peremptory implies an abrupt dictatorial manner coupled with an unwillingness to brook disobedience or dissent. given a peremptory dismissal imperative implies peremptoriness arising more from the urgency of the situation than from an inherent will to dominate. an imperative appeal for assistance

Examples of imperative in a Sentence

Adjective

… I have begun to feel each time as if I am mutilating my antennae (which is how Rastafarians, among others, think of hair) and attenuating my power. It seems imperative not to cut my hair anymore. — Alice Walker, Living by the Word, (1981) 1988 This strange and distorted form of breathing could be interrupted for a minute or two by a strong effort of will, but would then resume its bizarre and imperative character. — Oliver Sacks, Awakenings, 1973 We had a long and interesting evening with the Katzenbachs. He and Lyndon discussed the imperative need to make Washington a law-abiding city and how to go about it. — Lady Bird Johnson 27 Jan. 1965, A White House Diary, 1970 “Eat your spinach!” is an imperative sentence. “Help” in the sentence “Help me!” is an imperative verb. a verb in the imperative mood People resented his imperative tone of voice.

Noun

Ellroy has got to be the only writer who still uses "dig" as an imperative … — Laura Miller, New York Times Book Review, 20 May 2001 Indeed, under pressure from a new way of life in which radiant heat from woodburning stoves must circulate unimpeded by dividers, virtually every house with a chimney today has abandoned the closed-door imperative of the high-technology kitchen. — Maxine Kumin, In Deep, 1987 "Maturity" had been a code word … for marriage and settling down; "growth" implied a plurality of legitimate options, if not a positive imperative to keep moving from one insight or experience to the next. — Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times Magazine, 20 May 1984 She considers it a moral imperative to help people in need. “Eat your spinach!” is in the imperative. “Go” and “buy” are imperatives in the sentence “Please go to the store and buy some milk.”

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Contrary to common belief, this imperative does not mean that the budget is propelled by foreign wars. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "The Military-Industrial Virus," 10 June 2019 Under President Trump, the United States has not formally abandoned gay and transgender rights as a foreign policy imperative, but the quest has lost visibility and momentum. — Ernesto Londoño, New York Times, "Pride Flags and Foreign Policy: U.S. Diplomats See Shift on Gay Rights," 9 June 2019 Being vigilant — as well as conscientious — is imperative. — Marvin I. Schotland, Washington Post, "Passover is a jarring reminder: Slavery still thrives today," 29 Mar. 2018 Using sunscreen is imperative for protecting your skin from sunburn or cancer. — Fiza Pirani, ajc, "Study finds 67 percent of sunscreens don’t actually work — find one that does," 22 May 2018 The Thanksgiving to New Year’s grind is an unparalleled season of gluttony for most of us; by January of the New Year, streaming the best romantic comedies on Netflix and others becomes imperative as a method of self-care and post-party rehab. — Vogue, "13 Perfect Rom-Coms to Help With Your Holiday Hangover Right Now," 1 Jan. 2019 While verbalizing enjoyment and consent is imperative, paying attention to a partner’s body language is key, too. — Gigi Engle, SELF, "We Asked 15 People With Vaginas How to Make Oral Sex Even Better," 11 Mar. 2019 Floyd’s health appears imperative for an outside linebackers group that has depth questions. — Colleen Kane, chicagotribune.com, "Leonard Floyd expects to be 'full go' for Bears camp, looks to expand leadership role," 8 June 2018 The idea of needing to shower every 24 hours to maintain good personal hygiene is more of a societal norm some people subscribe to than a biological imperative, Emily Newsom, M.D., a dermatologist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, tells SELF. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "How Often Should You Really Shower?," 10 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

But the Partnership and other corporate lobbying groups realize that preparing for climate change is becoming a business imperative, to be embraced instead of opposed. — Jon Chesto, BostonGlobe.com, "Powerful business group adds climate change to its priorities," 13 June 2019 While consumer demand has made developing alternatives an industry imperative, few companies are eager to cede ground on existing business. — Danny Hakim, New York Times, "Warning of ‘Pig Zero’: One Drugmaker’s Push to Sell More Antibiotics," 7 June 2019 These disappearances are a function, largely, of the imperatives of secret travel. — Matthew Wolfe, Harper's magazine, "Without a Trace," 10 Feb. 2019 Cruz has voted down efforts to price greenhouse gas emissions while O’Rourke has framed fighting climate change as an economic imperative. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Governor races really matter for climate change. Here are the ones to watch.," 5 Nov. 2018 Jassy noted any law-enforcement agency that violates AWS' terms of service or is found guilty of a constitutional rights violation would have to curtail using the product, but stressed the regulatory imperative is mainly on governments. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Can Anyone Stop Our Slide into Face-Scanning Dystopia?," 9 Nov. 2018 Savall is sensitive to the imperative of centering the narrative around these voices. — Thomas May, The Seattle Times, "‘The Routes of Slavery’ traces a musical journey of resilience in the face of inhumanity," 31 Oct. 2018 But the Trump administration is adding a third policy imperative: immigration enforcement. — Dara Lind, Vox, "Finding homes for immigrant kids is hard. Trump’s making it harder — by arresting their relatives.," 21 Sep. 2018 China will not relent on industrial policy imperatives, such as Made in China 2025, aimed at building self-reliance. — New York Times, "In About-Face on Trade, Trump Vows to Protect ZTE Jobs in China," 13 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imperative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for imperative

Adjective

Middle English imperatyf, borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperātus, past participle of imperāre "to give orders, command" + -īvus -ive — more at emperor

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, noun derivative of imperātīvus imperative entry 1