DIRECTIVES Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

directives

noun

plural of directive

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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as in memorandums

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 directives Over the past week, authorities in Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines issued a series of directives encouraging flexible work, including working from home, 4-day workweeks, and taking the stairs instead of an elevator. —

Tristan Bove, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026 Operational restrictions are communicated through Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs—directives issued by aviation authorities that inform airlines which routes remain open and which must be avoided. —

Hana Al-Khodairi, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2026 Anthropic wants the judge to remove the supply-chain risk designation and require US agencies to withdraw directives related to it. —

Bloomberg, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026 Noem's confirmation out of the Senate sailed through, despite questions over how much money the agency was asking for to conduct immigration enforcement and policy directives coming from personnel high up at the White House, such as border czar Tom Homan. —

Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 5 Mar. 2026 Local agencies will have between 45 to 180 days to implement the directives passed by the city council Wednesday. —

Katie Campione, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026 Dollander arrived in camp with two clear directives. —

Troy Renck, Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2026 Blackmon expressed concern that preliminary directives, such as moving certain departments, were already steering the city toward vacating City Hall before a full financial and policy framework had been established. —

Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026 Many of them described a changing court system where the idea and process of seeking asylum was being stood on its head and judges’ ability to rule based on the letter of the law was being tested by a slew of directives from the new administration. —

Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives

Noun

Adjust the seeding depth and rate according to the label instructions.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2026
Once the pedestrians are out of the way, the car slowly pulls into the intersection before stopping again as the HSI agents approach, shouting instructions for the driver to stop.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026