1
as in incumbent
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
reporting signs of physical abuse is now an imperative duty for hospital and school personnel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in necessary
impossible to do without
proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement
although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperative
Simmone Shah, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Crucially, given Dominic Solanke and Richarlison’s tendency to involve themselves in the build-up, having forwards running off the central strikers is imperative.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
The report showed that 77 percent view global brand building as a strategic imperative, and two-thirds are even willing to sacrifice some profit margin in favor of export growth.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Adjective
Creating solutions to combat extreme heat is only going to become more imperative as temperatures increase, experts say.
—Simmone Shah, Time, 27 Aug. 2025
Crucially, given Dominic Solanke and Richarlison’s tendency to involve themselves in the build-up, having forwards running off the central strikers is imperative.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
Mason often leads workshops, presentations, and internal training for large primes, targeting supplier diversity as both a moral and business imperative.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
The report showed that 77 percent view global brand building as a strategic imperative, and two-thirds are even willing to sacrifice some profit margin in favor of export growth.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperative
Adjective
-
Johnson is hoping to unseat incumbent Pacheco and use his spot on the board to wrangle down drug prices and premiums.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The White House has maintained that anyone living in the country unlawfully is considered to be a criminal by the incumbent administration.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Monitor the Garlic and Deer fires, keeping the both fires within their current perimeters and mop up the the extent necessary to prevent the likelihood of an escape.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Water providers usually treat the arsenic out of their water when necessary — Surprise and Sahuarita both have both built special arsenic treatment facilities to handle the metal in its groundwater.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Conversations about gun violence in Chicago can no longer focus solely on homicide and must be expanded to also integrate urgent matters of suicide prevention.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This highlights the urgent need for organizations to prioritize employee well-being and create a more balanced, sustainable work culture.—
Clare Miller,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Follow evacuation instructions without delay.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Think of solving a math problem in your head or following multi-step instructions.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot shifted that obligation to CPS, and the district used federal COVID relief dollars to make the payments, until last year, when then-CEO Pedro Martinez refused.—
Nell Salzman,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Aside from a changing climate, water managers say the inability to store water in upstream reservoirs due to compact obligations exacerbates the problem.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Critically, this approach achieves the required resolution without the enormous deployment complexity of a 20-meter circular primary or the operational overhead of a starshade.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Though coverage for Wegovy (semaglutide) is generally better than for Zepbound this year, 88% of people getting Wegovy through their insurer still face hurdles, including prior authorization and required protocols in which cheaper treatments must be tried first prior to gaining access.—
Joshua P. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Gadsden State Community College and Chick-fil-A have teamed up to offer a training program that will equip participants with essential skills needed to land jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry.—
Staff reports,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Replant Correct planting depth is essential when planting peony divisions.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Just this year, the FDA approved the first new drug in a new class of non-opioid pain medicines, approved to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults.—
Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
CNN Money,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The need for credible solutions is acute.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperative. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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