1
as in thing
something done by someone
judge people by their actions, not by their words
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim
filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in behavior
actions plural
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself
observing the actions of mice in various controlled settings helps scientists understand the effects of certain drugs
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the wilderness was tamed by men and women of action
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 action
Trump’s actions so far have dramatically raised uncertainty, at times raising fears about a downturn.
—
Joseph Lawler, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
One of his most divisive actions in leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was the dismantling of USAID, which previously delivered billions of dollars of food and medicine to more than 100 countries.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
The first funerals with caissons will be limited to troops killed in action, recipients of the Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal and high-ranking service members.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 27 May 2025
The report is sent to a committee that decides if further action is necessary.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for action
Joseph Lawler, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025
One of his most divisive actions in leading the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was the dismantling of USAID, which previously delivered billions of dollars of food and medicine to more than 100 countries.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 June 2025
The first funerals with caissons will be limited to troops killed in action, recipients of the Medal of Honor or Prisoner of War Medal and high-ranking service members.
—Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today, 27 May 2025
The report is sent to a committee that decides if further action is necessary.
—Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
-
There are worse things that can be done to good government than junking Humphrey’s Executor, and Trump is busily engaged in many of them.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
29 May 2025
-
And doing that amount of blood coming out of Barry’s neck is a one-take thing.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
The basic plot mirrors Kon Ichikawa’s brutal antiwar classic Fires on the Plain, in which Japanese soldiers are left to starve on the Philippines island of Leyte during the waning days of World War II, and Anderson is serious about political oppression and the power of dissent.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
7 June 2025
-
No plot details have been revealed for Black Panther 3, but the legacy of T'Challa will live on.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The ruling Monday by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was the latest twist in a lawsuit against LAPD officer Toni McBride over an on-duty shooting that occurred in April 2020.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
The legal filing comes less than a year after Eight Mile Style lost its copyright infringement lawsuit against Spotify after five years due to a legal loophole.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, hill peaks, or ridge tops.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
31 May 2025
-
This nightmare scenario for 49ers fans is realistic: When Super Bowl LX is played in Santa Clara on the Niners’ field, the Rams could be representing the NFC.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
The women allege a longstanding pattern of such behavior.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
This is when trauma impairs emotional regulation and thinking, causing repetitive, distressing behaviors.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
That evolution mirrors trends seen in other fragile states where the rule of law has eroded — but with one key difference: Venezuela’s criminal strategy is explicitly transnational, with ambitions that extend far beyond its borders.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
-
So there is this constant tension within him between human-ness and party-ness, where on the one hand Xi Zhongxun was someone with his own views, his own ambitions, and his own emotions.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
But Peter Wagner, executive director of the Prison Policy Initiative, says specific numbers aren't as important as simply the act of trying to quantify what incarceration does to families.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
3 June 2025
-
As a kid growing up in Macclesfield, Ellis loved MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Bombay Bicycle Club, and other indie acts.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
These highlights were written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
31 May 2025
-
Wisely, the studio is keeping the story in the same universe by involving both Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han while starting a new story with Ben Wang’s Li Fong.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share