DIRECTS Synonyms: 131 Similar and Opposite Words

directs

verb

present tense third-person singular of direct

as in conducts

to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in instructs

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority our tour guide directed us to wait in front of the building until she could rejoin us

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in orders

to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in supervises

to look after and make decisions about the music teacher directs both the student orchestra and the marching band

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as in aims

to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in steers

to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 directs One of the leading proponents of an energy-centric view of disease is Martin Picard, a biologist who directs the Mitochondrial Psychobiology Group at Columbia University. — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Instead, the Gables mayor has the same voting powers as the rest of the commission, which acts like a board of directors for the city and directs the city manager, who is like the city’s CEO, to take certain actions through majority votes. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026 An airborne quarterback directs the drone According to The War Zone, the F-22 and YFQ-44A took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California and joined up in the air. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Gordon directs the council’s Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative. — Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Gordon directs the council's Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Adding unapproved peptides to the FDA’s list of compoundable drugs would mark a departure from the list’s purpose, said Peter Lurie, a former FDA official who now directs the advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest. — CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Vinay Waikul directs from scripts by Sambit Mishra and Saurabh Sawant. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 Trump’s move casts doubt on the likelihood of the White House imposing sanctions on Russia this month, given that a bipartisan law passed by Congress directs the administration to target the top importers of Russian oil and gas. — Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs

Verb

Their calculations showed that the molecule conducts electricity very differently depending on its rotational angle.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Andre Vasquez's office conducts a survey to decide which projects get done, like a mural outside the Budlong Woods branch of the Chicago Public Library.

— Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of conducts

Verb

The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Tuesday morning, after Tinkler Mendez instructs them on the law.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Its facilitator handbook encourages children to share their pronouns and instructs adults to use gender-neutral language.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of instructs

Verb

According to the lawsuit, Thomas frequently visits McDonald’s and orders a Quarter Pounder with cheese, fries and a Coke.

— Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
According to the lawsuit, Thomas frequently visits McDonald’s and orders a Quarter Pounder with cheese, french fries and a Coke.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of orders

Verb

Although labs such as DeepSeek and Moonshot AI are private, the state supervises them at every stage and, increasingly, finances them.

— NIALL FERGUSON, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026
Request the treating physician’s name and qualifications, then ask who performs each stage and how the physician supervises the team.

— Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

By increasing its manufacturing capacity, the company aims to strengthen its ability to deliver advanced systems to customers.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
The florist, which aims to open in late November, will specialize in seasonal floral arrangements and specialty bouquets.

— Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of aims

Verb

That’s because El Niño typically pointsthe jet stream — the west-to-east flowing, cross-country river of air that steers storms — at the southern tier of the US.

— Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Camden generally steers private clients away from designing for stays longer than 30 days, though some have asked his firm to plan for a year or more.

— Megan Buerger, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of steers

Verb

On finance, Europe does not lack money but channels it through a byzantine set of EU instruments, member-state agencies, development banks, and changing flagship initiatives.

— Claas Mertens, Foreign Affairs, 19 Oct. 2026
John Steinbeck wrote Cathy Ames, the antagonist of his novel East of Eden, as the embodiment of original sin, and in Zoe Kazan’s Netflix adaptation, Florence Pugh deftly channels the character’s ambition and cynicism.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of channels

Verb

Nouraei tells her patients and clients, however, that the safest way to start taking creatine would be incrementally, beginning with three grams daily for a week, then four, then to five.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
But for this initial step, Pierre tells mature patients to find a formula that’s gentle, non-irritating, and—if needed—able to remove makeup.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026