1
as in thing
something done by someone
judge people by their actions, not by their words
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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Recent Examples of action
The Stars considered returning him to game action just before the Olympic break but opted to give him a few extra weeks to recover.
—
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
At the same time, intensified federal immigration enforcement actions in Southern California have heightened tensions across school communities, prompting district leaders to reiterate policies aimed at protecting student access to campuses.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
States needed to shore up their own health systems, codify new vaccine schedules and deal with misinformation as a result of Kennedy’s actions, Mayes said on a call with reporters Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
As Comic Relief marks 40 years of harnessing laughter for good, and The Moth nears 30 years of connecting the world through the power of true personal stories — this show brings together storytellers who understand that humor can shift perspectives, build bridges, and inspire action.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for action
Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
At the same time, intensified federal immigration enforcement actions in Southern California have heightened tensions across school communities, prompting district leaders to reiterate policies aimed at protecting student access to campuses.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
States needed to shore up their own health systems, codify new vaccine schedules and deal with misinformation as a result of Kennedy’s actions, Mayes said on a call with reporters Tuesday.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
As Comic Relief marks 40 years of harnessing laughter for good, and The Moth nears 30 years of connecting the world through the power of true personal stories — this show brings together storytellers who understand that humor can shift perspectives, build bridges, and inspire action.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
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Donation scrutinized The closest thing to a financial scandal happened in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic as the district was trying to figure out how to educate students remotely.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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The fund helps cover things like payroll and lease payments and prioritizes restaurants that don’t have a digital footprint or access to fundraising support.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Investigators have since alleged the depth of the brazen plot extended to sending secret drone flights into North Korea to try to provoke a conflict with arch-rival Kim Jong Un and justify martial law.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Even if perimenopause feels like a bit of a plot twist, approaching the transition with kindness is key.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some records from the year-long exchange of evidence in the lawsuit battle were already released publicly in response to a federal appeals court order.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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The tobacco trials — which took place over decades but began to shift in favor of plaintiffs in the ’90s — similarly saw various types of plaintiffs file a wave of lawsuits, contributing to the release of internal documents and testing new legal theories.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Norway has recently produced Olympic champions in beach volleyball and several in track and field – two quintessentially summer sports.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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The slide path was estimated to be roughly the length of a football field.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Porter expressed remorse for her behavior.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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This confidence was hard-won over decades, yet it is being squandered through recent reckless fiscal behavior.—
Les Rubin,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But there will be an absence, one that has been felt at every national team camp since last July, which unites them more than any personal ambition.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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Porter was also the most extravagant in her promises, pledging to deliver universal healthcare to California — a years-old Democratic ambition — free child care, zero tuition at the state’s public universities and elimination of the state income tax for those earning less than $100,000.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The act allows the president to push industries to create materials and goods for national defense.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
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Enter Sheila, a street magician blackballed by the local boys club who wows Lincoln with her tips-only act.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Elsewhere, stories of economic gloom – from galloping inflation to restaurant closures and the knock-on impact of severe tax increases – describe the many ways in which the prolonged war in Ukraine is now hitting Russians hard in the pocket at home.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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