1
as in instructions
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 decrees
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 memorandums
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
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Recent Examples of directives
Rejections and reversals of prior directives at the FDA division responsible for reviewing cell and gene therapies have destabilized the already shaky footing of this field.
—
Ed Silverman, STAT, 6 May 2026
Under directives from President Hosni Mubarak, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) withdrew routing data, and disabled key network infrastructure within two hours.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026
In 2022, the New York legislature amended the mayoral control law to implement one-year terms, so that mayors could not remove appointees for breaking with their directives.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026
Onka was asked to participate in an investigation of a complaint made by Officer Kelley Rupert-Marriott, who was subjected to an internal affairs investigation in retaliation for her directives to Dustman.
—Ben Wheeler
may 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
Emergency officials can also issue emergency directives to robotaxi companies to get their vehicles out of specific areas within two minutes during emergencies.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
The office also handles business registrations, oversees the state archives and runs a potpourri of other state programs, like commissioning notaries public and maintaining a registry for advance care directives.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
If demand rises faster than infrastructure can be approved and built, reliability erodes, reserve margins thin, queues lengthen, delays compound, costs rise, and strategic directives become harder to realize.
—Dan Romito, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
Angola’s Portuguese colonizers were emboldened by 15th-century directives from the Vatican that authorized them to enslave non-Christians.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Ed Silverman, STAT, 6 May 2026
Under directives from President Hosni Mubarak, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) withdrew routing data, and disabled key network infrastructure within two hours.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 May 2026
In 2022, the New York legislature amended the mayoral control law to implement one-year terms, so that mayors could not remove appointees for breaking with their directives.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026
Onka was asked to participate in an investigation of a complaint made by Officer Kelley Rupert-Marriott, who was subjected to an internal affairs investigation in retaliation for her directives to Dustman.
—Ben Wheeler
may 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
Emergency officials can also issue emergency directives to robotaxi companies to get their vehicles out of specific areas within two minutes during emergencies.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
The office also handles business registrations, oversees the state archives and runs a potpourri of other state programs, like commissioning notaries public and maintaining a registry for advance care directives.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2026
If demand rises faster than infrastructure can be approved and built, reliability erodes, reserve margins thin, queues lengthen, delays compound, costs rise, and strategic directives become harder to realize.
—Dan Romito, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
Angola’s Portuguese colonizers were emboldened by 15th-century directives from the Vatican that authorized them to enslave non-Christians.
—ABC News, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
Noun
-
The resulting disruptions include numerous school and business closings, remote work instructions and finding alternate sites for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.—
Nicholas Lentz,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
For the 2025 version, our approximately 10 pairings of drivers and navigators arrived on a Wednesday and convened at Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo to sign in and receive preliminary instructions for the next day’s start.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
But investors are taking a chance in tying their money to college sports at a time when there are unresolved and potentially transformative legal battles, with outcomes hinging less on economics than on judicial decrees.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
1 May 2026
-
Under Díaz-Canel, the Cuban government has passed several laws and decrees to punish the sharing of opposition views, including on social media.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The visit, led by officials tied to the White House’s energy policy apparatus, is expected to produce memorandums of understanding covering oil and key minerals such as gold, aluminum and possibly coal.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As the justices’ memoranda illustrate, West Virginia, North Dakota and several energy companies sued the Obama administration over its Clean Power Plan and sought to block the new, transformative regulation from going into effect.—
Wayne Unger,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
My worry is edicts from Hartford.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The variety of different rulings tee up a divide the Supreme Court will ultimately need to resolve.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
-
Republicans have opened up an advantage in a national redistricting battle among states after a pair of court rulings that weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities and invalidated a key Democratic redistricting effort.—
David A. Lieb,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Fourthly, performance standards ensuring more transparency and accountability must be set for the TTC office, eliminating endless phone wait times, confusing notices, incorrect tax bills, delayed refunds and bureaucratic runaround.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The process typically entails violation notices citing specific governing provisions, and hearings to discuss and decide upon an ultimate resolution.—
Nicole R. Kurtz,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Beyond the bar, guests have access to an exclusive room service menu with proper meals for breakfast, dinner, and late-night orders.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
The catering started in 2025, and the Greek orders poured in.—
Sarah Kyrcz,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Later, the Moon squares Mars in Aries, which can make decisions feel rushed.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
-
Through the daily rhythms of an urban hospital’s emergency ward and clinics, HOSPITAL reveals the intricate systems, urgent decisions, and human encounters at the heart of modern medicine.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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