directed

past tense of direct
1
as in channeled
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in ordered
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in aimed
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
as in steered
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise

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 directed Beyond her work on KPop Demon Hunters, EJAE has also written, vocal-directed, and contributed background vocals for various major K-pop artists. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 Being Eddie is directed by Angus Wall and produced by John Davis, John Fox, Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Terry Leonard and Kent Kubena. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 Written and directed by Rel Dowdell, Train Ride unfolds on the campus of Cheyney University, the nation’s oldest historically Black college. Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025 The White House, in a statement, also directed NPR to the text of the president's proclamation — which would allow the Department of Homeland Security to grant exceptions to the fee. Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for directed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directed
Verb
  • Chlöe Bailey channeled her mentor Beyoncé's role as Foxxy Cleopatra in 2002's Austin Powers in Goldmember for Halloween 2025.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • While Taylor channeled striking sensuality in Tom Ford by Haider Ackermann, Fahy embraced feminine touches in Chloé.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Kruppas were instructed to bring $50 to each visit and, Laurie stressed, they were told the donor sperm would come from a resident in the university’s medical school.
    Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Ramirez mentioned this to a superior, who instructed Ramirez to direct Chua to the city manager.
    Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Cabrales-Arzola ordered a ride-hailing service just 35 minutes after entering the apartment, but neither of the women left until Pearce carried them out the following afternoon and dropped them off at different hospitals.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The divorce was finalized in February 2019, and ordered McCrary to pay $1,366 per month in child support ($916 as a base amount, plus $415 in child-care costs), according to documents obtained by PEOPLE at the time.
    Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hoban supervised construction of the porticoes on the north and south sides of the building that Latrobe originally designed in 1807.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Russia’s strategic nuclear forces carried out a readiness test supervised by the country’s President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.
    Anna Chernova, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • It’s aimed at tucking in as a lower-cost alternative to subscription VOD services like Netflix or HBO Max.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Though much of the language around clean fashion is aimed at the health of the consumer, experts are keen to stress that benefits for those working in the supply chain should be considered, too.
    Sophie Benson, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There Paola steered my hand around two shallow reflecting pools.
    Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Navan, and Zeev, waited patiently as the company steered itself back to growth.
    Michal Lev-Ram, CNBC Contributor, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Arkansas elections are currently conducted using two devices -- an ExpressVote device, which is the machine voters use to mark ballots, and the DS200 tabulator.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Spanberger has led the race in every major poll for months, including by as much as 10% in an Emerson College poll conducted in September.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Thirty-two people faced charges ranging from theft and murder to witchcraft, Claire Kehily, councillor for Maidstone Borough Council, told CNN.
    James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Local resident Lee Needham also told the BBC that the crash site was close to houses, train tracks, industrial units and electrical towers.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Directed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directed. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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