1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority
a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in memorandum
a written communication giving information or directions
a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president
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 directive
The third film in the franchise follows Ares (Jared Leto), an intelligent computer program who begins to question his orders and directives from CEO Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), setting him on a collision course into the real world to find Eve Kim (Greta Lee), the current CEO of Encom.
—
Leia Mendoza, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, issued a directive to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider crypto currency assets in their underwriting guidelines for mortgage loans.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
This is because survival is our prime directive in life, and survival depends on always having enough energy.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
That is a directive from the president.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Leia Mendoza, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025
Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, issued a directive to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider crypto currency assets in their underwriting guidelines for mortgage loans.
—Robert Frank, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
This is because survival is our prime directive in life, and survival depends on always having enough energy.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
That is a directive from the president.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
-
Follow these instructions to enable your phone to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The instruction from the government prompted the national strike.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Maduro has categorically denied the allegations and has signed a decree activating a state of emergency in the event of foreign aggression.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The decree bans warrantless arrests unless agents have probable cause to believe someone is in the United States unlawfully, and is also a flight risk.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Curley issued a memorandum to McCabe, reaffirming his role as the controller and affirming that Nygren’s termination letter held no legal authority or effect.—
Arlyssa D. Becenti,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Third visit back to Albania, maybe a year after that, was for the announcement of a memorandum of understanding between Patagonia and the Albanian government to co-create the Vjosa Wild River National Park.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Morris went along with it, but in the wake of the Bucs’ 35-7 defeat in October 2009, some of his players ignored the edict.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
-
The edict also created mass confusion and even panic among current H-1B holders and employers, thanks to conflicting statements from the White House.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
First, understand what the ruling means.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Both liberals and conservatives now reshape government through executive power and Supreme Court rulings instead of formal amendments, which undermines democratic participation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Illston granted the unions' request for a temporary restraining order to pause the implementation of layoffs already underway and to block any additional layoff notices from being sent out at more than 30 agencies where the unions represent employees.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The news comes a day after the American Federation of Government Employees said 600 union members, nearly a quarter of the staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, received layoff notices.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Paramount needed government approval from the Federal Communications Commission in order to go ahead with its merger with Skydance.—
Scarlett Harris,
Time,
13 Oct. 2025
-
There are a few ground rules to follow when assembling your bulb lasagna in order to get good results.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Third, standardize decision-grade data and impact frameworks.—
Olivier Wenden,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Filosa said the investment decisions were a result of discussions with the company’s new leadership team as well as stakeholders such as the company’s franchised dealer network.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share