as in overseeing
Related Words
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Dissimilar Words
as in commanding
Related Words
1
as in channeling
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
2
as in instructing
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 ordering
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 supervising
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 aiming
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 guiding
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
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Recent Examples of directing
Naomi Jeffries, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Beyond lead acting contenders Rhea Seehorn, Carlos-Manuel Vesga and Karolina Wydra, the series will need a lift from the guest acting, directing, writing and artisan branches to get there.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 June 2026
Baylin also recently penned the Lance Armstrong spec that sold to Apple this past spring with Ed Berger directing and Austin Butler attached to star as the famed cyclist.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Stuart Meltzer, artistic director of Zoetic Stage and here guest directing at GableStage, keeps the action moving briskly while still allowing the play’s more powerful moments room to breathe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Aster has repeatedly explored high-profile humiliation and anonymous crowds who mistake vengeance for catharsis in his own directing work, making the horror filmmaker’s involvement particularly on-theme.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Shea grew up in Los Angeles and trained at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy, a three-year conservatory for acting and directing.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Rather than replacing directing, generative systems force creators to externalize intuition with unprecedented precision.
—C.m. Rubin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Even though 2025 writing/directing nominees Hacks, Abbott, and The Bear should all draw plenty of support once again, both the Writing for a Comedy and Directing for a Comedy categories have recognized at least one first-year show in 11 of the last 12 years.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 June 2026
With its violent and disgusting script, Se7en defied Hollywood conventions and was a perfect match for David Fincher, who was then known for directing Alien 3 (1992) along with gritty and inventive music videos.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Founders are encouraged to embrace agentic engineering by directing AI agents for projects, learning from their limitations, and prioritizing the underlying AI model's quality.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Dylan Clark, an up-and-comer out of the YouTube space, is directing the film for Lionsgate and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, with production slated for fall.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 June 2026
That hasn't stopped him from trying to get an allocation, especially given that SpaceX is directing an unusually high amount of shares to retail.
—Sean Conlon,yun Li, CNBC, 12 June 2026
The state attorneys union filed a lawsuit against departments on Friday, arguing that California agencies did not comply with the state’s signature environmental law when directing workers to return to government offices, which will result in more carbon emissions from commuters.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
The screening was followed by a Q&A with the queen of pop herself, alongside directing duo TORSO, otherwise known as David Toro and Solomon Chase.
—Karla Cote, Variety, 6 June 2026
Noun
Taylor’s career has evolved across music, film, television, directing and fashion.
—Naomi Jeffries, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
Presented by The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League, the Tony Awards are considered the most prestigious honors in theater, recognizing excellence across acting, directing, design and more.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026
Beyond lead acting contenders Rhea Seehorn, Carlos-Manuel Vesga and Karolina Wydra, the series will need a lift from the guest acting, directing, writing and artisan branches to get there.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 1 June 2026
Baylin also recently penned the Lance Armstrong spec that sold to Apple this past spring with Ed Berger directing and Austin Butler attached to star as the famed cyclist.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Stuart Meltzer, artistic director of Zoetic Stage and here guest directing at GableStage, keeps the action moving briskly while still allowing the play’s more powerful moments room to breathe.
—Mary Damiano, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
Aster has repeatedly explored high-profile humiliation and anonymous crowds who mistake vengeance for catharsis in his own directing work, making the horror filmmaker’s involvement particularly on-theme.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
Shea grew up in Los Angeles and trained at the Los Angeles Theatre Academy, a three-year conservatory for acting and directing.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Rather than replacing directing, generative systems force creators to externalize intuition with unprecedented precision.
—C.m. Rubin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Verb
Miami-Dade commissioners Natalie Orbis and Roberto Gonzalez passed a resolution in January directing the county mayor’s office to produce a report on whether the buses were actually a benefit for residents’ wallets and health – and the environment.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 13 June 2026
Even though 2025 writing/directing nominees Hacks, Abbott, and The Bear should all draw plenty of support once again, both the Writing for a Comedy and Directing for a Comedy categories have recognized at least one first-year show in 11 of the last 12 years.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 June 2026
With its violent and disgusting script, Se7en defied Hollywood conventions and was a perfect match for David Fincher, who was then known for directing Alien 3 (1992) along with gritty and inventive music videos.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Founders are encouraged to embrace agentic engineering by directing AI agents for projects, learning from their limitations, and prioritizing the underlying AI model's quality.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Dylan Clark, an up-and-comer out of the YouTube space, is directing the film for Lionsgate and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, with production slated for fall.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 June 2026
That hasn't stopped him from trying to get an allocation, especially given that SpaceX is directing an unusually high amount of shares to retail.
—Sean Conlon,yun Li, CNBC, 12 June 2026
The state attorneys union filed a lawsuit against departments on Friday, arguing that California agencies did not comply with the state’s signature environmental law when directing workers to return to government offices, which will result in more carbon emissions from commuters.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 6 June 2026
The screening was followed by a Q&A with the queen of pop herself, alongside directing duo TORSO, otherwise known as David Toro and Solomon Chase.
—Karla Cote, Variety, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directing
Adjective
-
Versant will become a minority, non-controlling investor in the company.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
2 June 2026
-
Feliciano, a co-controlling owner of Chelsea, is expected to be designated as the Padres’ control person.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Equally commanding was Tessa Thompson’s riveting performance in Hedda (directed by Nia DaCosta), which earned her a deserved Golden Globe nomination.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old who allegedly shot the two West Virginia National Guardsmen in downtown Washington, DC, served in the elite tactical units, according to Sami Sadat, the former commanding general of the Afghan Army's Special Operations Corps.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
From channeling bridal style in all-white to stepping out for date night in Zimmermann florals and turning courtside fashion into a moment in Stella McCartney, the artist has been amping up the excitement for her upcoming nuptials.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
-
Coupang is far from the first company that has invested serious time and money in channeling its grievances through Washington.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Rather than instructing children to look outside of themselves to a world filled with cruelty and injustice, we are encouraged to turn inward, to the self, and then smaller still, to the womb of one’s discontent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Dec. 2025
-
China balked, instructing companies to stop purchasing H20s due to security concerns.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Connecticut legislators this winter considered ordering a feasibility study, but opted against it.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
10 June 2026
-
In bodycam footage, officers are heard ordering the driver to turn the vehicle off.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The administrative officer completes budget journals to move funding from the correct city department to the correct fleet project account, in addition to supervising multiple staff members of the Fleet Administrative Team.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado,
Sacbee.com,
9 Dec. 2025
-
For See It Now Studios, Susan Zirinsky and Terence Wrong are executive producers, and Aysu Saliba and Cara Tortora are supervising producers.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Launched on August 1, 2025, by MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and fellow creator Mark Rober, #TeamWater is a sweeping philanthropic campaign aiming to raise $40 million by the end of August to bring clean water to 2 million people across the globe.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Transitioning out of production work and aiming to retire, Adler pivoted unexpectedly into acting beginning in the early ’90s.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Both efforts kept growing for a couple of years until Erickson decided to stop guiding and concentrate on his YouTube productions.—
Craig Bihrle,
Twin Cities,
6 Dec. 2025
-
In scripture, the Holy Spirit was heavily involved in guiding the life of Jesus Christ.—
Gqlshare,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directing. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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