Definition of directionnext
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as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

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 direction That loop is at high altitude (over 6,200 ft / 1,890 m) at highway speeds (65 mph / 105 km/h) in both directions on the same road. New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026 Washington is moving in the opposite direction. Justin Rosenstein, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026 Perhaps 20 or more people work intensively with little direction. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026 Roy said the series was originally on track for an American distributor — until restrictions on the show’s creative direction became a dealbreaker. Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
Noun
  • More than 7 million student loan borrowers who have been enrolled in a Biden-era repayment plan will receive notices beginning Friday with instructions to seek a new plan to repay their debt, the Education Department said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The candy bars, which are likely to be circulated in unofficial sales channels across Europe, can be identified by a unique batch code assigned to individual bars and when scanned would relay instructions on how to contact KitKat, the company said.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In Guerin’s experience, having played on two Stanley Cup-winning teams and serving in the management for a few more, the importance of depth come playoff time — when injuries can be sudden and devastating to a team’s title hopes 1 is a vital tool in the team’s toolbox.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Topics include weight management, diet, exercise, Alzheimer’s disease prevention, and the biology of aging.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Friends of Rubio say his stance and the underlying goal of a free Cuba has never wavered and continue to serve as his personal and political compass.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
  • When thoughts race, breathe slowly and trust your inner compass to organize your feelings before responding.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Eco effort Six Senses has long held the mantle for being ahead of the sustainability trend, and in Rome, the property was built to incorporate their ethos.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Just the same, the flip side of this is that baseball is notoriously fickle and often deceptive from one day to the next, with the line between coincidence and trend ever-blurry.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The order ensures that a lawyer can show up to meet with their client at the site during visitation hours every day of the week without first obtaining permission.
    Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Banks are required by law to report suspicious activity in customer accounts to federal authorities in order to flag potential criminal activity, such as money laundering or fraud.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Avoid abandoning any fire without supervision.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Jeremiah would thrive with a family that can provide supervision, structure, patience and understanding, along with a consistent routine.
    The Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The Baltic Sea lacks strong tides that could have freed the whale.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • But by March 2018, the tides had clearly shifted; although Republican midterm primary voters only saw slight decreases from 2014, Democrats surged from just 10,500 votes in the 2014 governor primary to nearly 60,000, a rise that was seen down ballot as well.
    Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Also, an edict was issued directing people to use the bathroom of their gender assigned at birth, Brinkmeyer said.
    Vernal Coleman, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
  • In 2003, as the United States invaded Iraq over false claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, Khamenei issued a religious edict — a fatwa — declaring nuclear weapons to be forbidden under Islam.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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