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
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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
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3
as in memorandum
a written communication giving information or directions
a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of directive
Created by Congress in 1996, the Trust is a federal corporation with a directive to manage and lease property within the Presidio, a 1,500-acre swath of federal land, designated a national historic landmark in 1962.
—
J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Palmer sends a directive to the MPKs to arrest anyone doing anything even remotely suspicious.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet Trump’s own vision for the White House design doesn’t align with this directive.
—Kevin D. Murphy, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
That was Jeff Peterson’s directive.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
J.k. Dineen, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Palmer sends a directive to the MPKs to arrest anyone doing anything even remotely suspicious.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet Trump’s own vision for the White House design doesn’t align with this directive.
—Kevin D. Murphy, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
That was Jeff Peterson’s directive.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
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The team also gave Luna a series of initial instructions, including pre-launch priorities like hiring an employee to run the store’s day-to-day operations, deciding what the store should sell and ordering inventory.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Instead, what the court addressed was a single jury instruction, charting several paths forward — including fixing that instruction and trying the case again.—
Alex Crippen,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Friday that has imposed sanctions on five Russian cultural figures who are involved with organizing the Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Popov was a deputy defense minister from 2013 until June 2024, when he was dismissed by presidential decree.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As the calls were taking place, the State Department worked with the respective governments to formulate a memorandum of understanding for the ceasefire, according to the White House official.—
Yarden Segev,
NBC news,
16 Apr. 2026
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The State Department worked with both governments to formulate a memorandum of understanding for the truce.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
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Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologized Wednesday for publicly criticizing Justice Brett Kavanaugh over a ruling on immigration stops — and seeming to imply that her conservative colleague's views were shaped by an out-of-touch upbringing.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Soyfer said one of the goals of the litigation is to build a movement that leads to a higher ruling to broadly curb the surveillance state promoted by the widespread adoption of ALPR cameras.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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As standard medications are not effective when treating multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, those infected will receive alternative treatment, the notice states.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
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Other signs warned of danger from crumbling masonry overhead, though there was none of the scaffolding that might accompany such notices.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Much of his business relies on delivery orders, and the restaurant remains open seven days a week.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Court documents indicate that Nancy had filed for a restraining order in both 1998 and 1999.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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New Zealand was awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time after Maya Hahn was brought down in the box but the decision was overturned after the officials considered replays for more than five minutes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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According to the agenda, the Board of Managers will discuss behind closed doors the decision not to renew or terminate certain contracts, then take up a public vote.—
Lacey Beasley,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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