DIRECTIVE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

directive

noun

Definition of directive

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

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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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

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 By expressly including the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in the directive, the National Fraud Enforcement Division appears to be placing drug and device makers, among others, more clearly in its crosshairs. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026 Her directive contradicts state law, which since 2023 has required judges to livestream most criminal court proceedings except under particular circumstances. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 Individual campuses in the CSU and UC can create their own policies in addition to systemwide directives. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 Adopting strong, common-sense building codes for large buildings and minimizing cuts to energy efficiency should be a no-brainer to anyone seeking to follow Moore’s directive. — Tom Nyein, Baltimore Sun, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for directive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive

Noun

Those conversations range from lunches and athletics to classroom instruction and college opportunities, and several student recommendations have already led to changes this year.

— Lina Ruiz October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
The company’s security controls technically worked, as the agent faithfully carried out the fraudster’s instructions.

— Caryn Seidman Becker, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

An emergency decree, signed by Hitler and Hindenburg, restricted press freedoms and public demonstrations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
After the decree’s expiration in 2018, Republicans ramped up their recruitment of poll watchers for the 2020 presidential election.

— Mark Krasovic, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of decree

Noun

And there was, in fact, a meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and his counterparts, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to try to engineer some sort of a return to a memorandum of understanding.

— Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
The announcement follows a presidential memorandum issued on August 13, directing the administration to develop a plan for a centralized facility capable of receiving new submarine components and refurbishing existing parts.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of memorandum

Noun

The edict is to transform the operating model when the market fundamentally shifts so the company can thrive in a changing environment.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

Following the ruling, Benson drowns her sorrows over cocktails with Sharpe, and, in a revealing, impeccably acted scene, airs out her grievances about her job.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
The commission's conclusion was not a ruling by an international court.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruling

Noun

The taxpayers’ attorney, Abraham Wagner, cited four cases to support his argument that an IRS notice assessing additional taxes was invalid.

— Kaitlin Newkirk, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
This move would only continue to shift this heavy financial burden onto local businesses and individual homeowners, many of whom have recently received notices of increases of more than 10% in their property assessments.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of notice

Noun

The show’s creative team was able to concentrate on making the series itself rather than second-guessing every decision to appeal to the international market.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
The review describes cognitive and behavioral consequences that can include impairments in working memory, decision making and emotional regulation.

— Shahrzad Jalali, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of decision

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directions

directive

directives

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“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of directive

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