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
as in instructed
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority
our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in supervised
to look after and make decisions about
the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Rianda, who co-wrote and directed the original, is an executive producer, along with Lord Miller’s Aditya Sood.
—
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 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
Berto, who told CNN she was shocked by the allegations, declined to comment on any criminal history and directed questions on the matter to her attorney.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directed
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 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
Berto, who told CNN she was shocked by the allegations, declined to comment on any criminal history and directed questions on the matter to her attorney.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directed
Verb
-
Dončić channeled his competitive rage against the team that knocked him out of the playoffs a season ago.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The second look channeled her inner angel, featuring a silky camisole, a short set and massive quilted wings.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
24 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
-
Amid this crackdown, Russia’s Foreign Ministry ordered USAID to leave.—
Tetiana Kotelnykova,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Dozens of unable-to-fly wild ducks and geese at a sanctuary in Washtenaw County's Salem Township, earlier ordered killed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, have received a reprieve.—
Keith Matheny,
Freep.com,
22 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
-
The report aimed to discover what turns singles on and off when visiting a prospective mate’s home.—
Essence,
Essence,
23 Oct. 2025
-
At its best, the tool aimed to be a bit like Shortcuts, but with no setup, generating workflows on the fly based on user prompts.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The recommendation algorithm that has steered millions of users into an endless stream of video shorts has been central in the security debate over TikTok.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The property was in an area Chinese immigrants and other minorities had been steered away from, according to a 1930s Phoenix redlining map.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here's what the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, which distributes SNAP benefits, told IndyStar about the impact on SNAP.—
Hayleigh Colombo,
IndyStar,
24 Oct. 2025
-
After surviving the massacre and making a recovery that surprised even her doctors, Sophia returned home in time to celebrate her upcoming 13th birthday, a family spokesperson told CNN.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel requested records of complaints submitted through that form, which has been available since August 2024.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The civil lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court alleges Blain has refused to produce requested public records from his private accounts, apps and devices and has deleted public records from those same sources and asked others to delete messages from him.—
Susan Gill Vardon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share