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
Bass has previously announced directives regarding strategic LAPD deployment, including in March after a brawl broke out in connection to a street takeover near upscale apartments in downtown.
—
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
Artist Davide Balula had three performers, clad in black and white, dancing in slow motion, apparently carrying out directives for how to arrange themselves that appeared on a screen, as if in a high-concept version of the old Milton Bradley game Twister.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Afterward, Moore issued three directives clarifying that state and local agencies may still cooperate with ICE on criminal matters and immigration detainers.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 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
Artist Davide Balula had three performers, clad in black and white, dancing in slow motion, apparently carrying out directives for how to arrange themselves that appeared on a screen, as if in a high-concept version of the old Milton Bradley game Twister.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Afterward, Moore issued three directives clarifying that state and local agencies may still cooperate with ICE on criminal matters and immigration detainers.
—Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
Noun
-
Your brother had similar pressure put on him by the national team after disobeying instructions and speaking out.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
-
This is a strong time to confirm details, send clear instructions, and keep things moving without overcomplicating it.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 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
-
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
-
Like most of her peers, Agnes follows her country’s various repressive edicts directed toward young women.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Months after being fired, the former immigration judge followed one final case back to the Guatemalan mountains — carrying flowers, questions and the weight of one of his last rulings.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
-
These rulings enable our client to present his case at a jury trial, now scheduled for October of this year.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Duffy and many of his neighbors got eviction notices when a large company purchased their apartment complex late last year.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The posts were hit with copyright notices, but the film already has gone viral, with other users sharing it.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The arrangement is in effect until the pair's next hearing on April 30, when the judge will review their competing protective orders.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Nearly seven months after federal troops were preparing to deploy to Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz, a federal judge on Monday granted a motion to dismiss the state’s lawsuit over the mobilization amid assurances that the presidential orders have been rescinded.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
His trip to Old Trafford for the Leeds United match will have left him contemplating the more difficult decisions ahead.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Should such programming be rated differently or contain relevant descriptions so that parents can make informed decisions?—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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