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
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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
Other universities have emphasized the need to comply with state directives.
—
Anindya Kundu, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
The document also includes directives to begin the privatization of TSA’s airport screeners by requiring small airports to enroll in the Screening Partnership Program.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
According to the whistleblower, abuse of the SNAP program goes undetected at a substantially higher rate due to directives from upper management to not dig into questionable applicants or active cases.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Information flows upward through layers of reporting, and directives flow downward through chains of command.
—Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
The city administrator manages city departments and reports to the mayor, yet is also charged with implementing the council’s directives.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
What the report found In response to the allegations in Minnesota, Abbott issued six directives to the state workforce and human services commissions to identify if Texas had a problem with improper payments, specifically with fraud.
—Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
That includes planning, organizing, evaluating and directing the work of the ALI based on legal mandates, changing and emergent training needs, departmental priorities, directives, statutes, and strategic goals.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Wills, life insurance policies, medical directives, and funeral arrangements are often postponed until a crisis strikes.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
Anindya Kundu, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
The document also includes directives to begin the privatization of TSA’s airport screeners by requiring small airports to enroll in the Screening Partnership Program.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
According to the whistleblower, abuse of the SNAP program goes undetected at a substantially higher rate due to directives from upper management to not dig into questionable applicants or active cases.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Information flows upward through layers of reporting, and directives flow downward through chains of command.
—Lawrence Rosenberg, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
The city administrator manages city departments and reports to the mayor, yet is also charged with implementing the council’s directives.
—Kate Talerico, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Mar. 2026
What the report found In response to the allegations in Minnesota, Abbott issued six directives to the state workforce and human services commissions to identify if Texas had a problem with improper payments, specifically with fraud.
—Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
That includes planning, organizing, evaluating and directing the work of the ALI based on legal mandates, changing and emergent training needs, departmental priorities, directives, statutes, and strategic goals.
—Sacbee.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Wills, life insurance policies, medical directives, and funeral arrangements are often postponed until a crisis strikes.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
Noun
-
So, the mission team gave the Artemis 2 crew some instructions.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
To switch to Google Messages, Samsung's website gives users instructions to download the app from the Play Store, if not already on their phone, and set it as the default.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On Sunday, thousands marched in Santiago in protest of Kast’s rollback of dozens of environmental decrees.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The decrees rolled back by Kast’s administration had been signed during the government of left-wing former Chilean leader Gabriel Boric, whom Kast replaced as president earlier this month.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The city has signed memorandums of understanding with other law enforcement entities in accordance with California laws to share information, Cortez said.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Sheriff's offices in Laurel, McCracken and Pendleton counties, along with police departments in Hickman, Falmouth and Winchester signed memorandums of agreement with ICE in the first month of the year.—
Keely Doll,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Covid-19 bred doubt about government edicts and skepticism about science, provoking an existential battle for truth.—
Richard Edelman,
Time,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When added to the growing list of rulings, her strategy is rapidly becoming clear.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
That lasted five games until new rulings barred him again.—
Eddie Pells,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Rules relating to meetings, notices, proxy voting, remote participation, board composition, and election procedures have also been addressed in response to the growing use of virtual meetings and electronic processes.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
As of Wednesday, no notices were listed for Palomar on the state attorney general’s website that lists such disclosures.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
It was written by an agency that no longer exists, and 17 specific orders haven’t been updated since 2001.—
Tom Manzo,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The following month, a hit squad, reportedly acting on bin Salman’s orders, strangled Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist who had been critical of the regime, and used a bone saw to dismember his corpse.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
However, after facing opposition, the bill was amended so that any disciplinary decisions would be handled at the local school level.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Gentry was involved in the evaluation and decisions around bank mergers for the company.—
Chase Jordan
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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