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as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 direction Moisture will be coming from two directions, Simmons said. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2025 One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions. Sean Conlon,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 30 June 2025 This after Windows 11 dipped and Windows 10 recovered in May, widening the gap between new and old in the wrong direction. Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Emerging from the London Underground, Turnpike Lane has a bustling shopping area in either direction: cafés, supermarkets and takeaways with plenty of people mulling about. Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
Noun
  • Applying for a Nordstrom credit card is simple—just head to Nordstrom.com and follow the application instructions.
    Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 30 June 2025
  • The note said that one of the jurors is not able to follow the instructions given by the judge.
    Tracy Wright , Lauryn Overhultz , Maria Paronich , Brendan McDonald, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Resilience is more than traditional risk management, the report states.
    Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • The idea that residents should trust a city coming off 30 years of grievous management errors to handle this task well is hard to believe.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • It is recommended that hikers travel with food and water, a compass, maps, sturdy hiking shoes, and survival gear in case of an overnight stay.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 25 June 2025
  • And in an era of emerging tech, economic uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, clients are looking for their lawyers to be both compass and counsel, providing direction and expertise.
    Liane Jackson, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation on Friday banning students from using cellphones at school, marking the latest development in a trend that is growing nationally and worldwide.
    Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
  • Heck, remember back in April and early May when this very team won 16 of 18 — the franchise’s best such stretch since 1978, But at some point, what might be dismissed as a blip grows into a trend and morphs into an identity.
    Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • About 22,000 refugees had received approval to travel, and about 600,000 people around the world were under consideration for admission to the U.S. when the executive order fell, CBS and AP News reported, respectively.
    Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 23 June 2025
  • With the switch, the five years’ worth of orders under NSSF Phase 2 have ULA with 25 missions ordered to SpaceX’s 23 missions, for what was originally targeted to be a 60% to 40% order ration in favor of ULA.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • While her daughter sometimes runs alone with classmates and under the supervision of school coaches, at-home runs are a different matter.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • The allegations span from 1970 to 2018: For nearly 50 years, the abuse of children has gone unchecked under the supervision of the state.
    Alvin Lee, Baltimore Sun, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • However, Schaeffer’s fiery response to Freeman’s strikeout clearly turned the tides in his dugout.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
  • While the rising tide of corporate sustainability is creating worldwide big wave patterns, JCK and the Kering Group are surfing those waves together.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • President Trump’s new travel ban has sparked widespread outrage and fear in New York’s sprawling Haitian community, by far the biggest local diaspora group affected by the edict aimed at 12 nations.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 8 June 2025
  • In the meantime, however, these discriminatory government edicts will continue to violate Coloradans’ rights of free speech and free exercise of religion, and adversely impact the privacy, safety, professional conduct, and even health of those who disagree with the government’s ideology.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 7 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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