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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The artist’s best work, in a new retrospective at the Whitney Museum, directs his campy humor at gender stereotypes. — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 But DeFlock, a crowdsourcing website that directs people to plot the cameras on a map after finding them, estimates the number in a 29-county area around Atlanta is more than 6,000 – both Flock and non-Flock ALPRs. — Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026 Julian Rose directs the program in Alternative Materials at rearc institute. — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026 Rama informs her of his marital status and playfully directs her to Lakshmana, presenting him as unmarried. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026 Two-time Oscar winner Sanders writes and directs the documentary. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026 The policy directs the FDA not to take action against specialty pharmacies that sell a half-dozen wellness peptides, including BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV. — Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026 The effort involved him, campaign aides, lawyers and officials at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which directs the party’s campaign strategy in races across the country. — New York Times, 29 Oct. 2026 Relying on help from its racing division, the team has outfitted the vehicle with a removable wind deflector that directs air over the cockpit and to the rear intake snorkel and recalibrated its active elements for open-air operation. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs

Verb

Honan and Zeche lead Honan Strategy Group, a New York polling and strategy firm that conducts the 5 Borough Barometer, a recurring survey of New York City public opinion.

— Bradley Honan, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
Instant cooling fibers help keep your sleep surface cooler night after night, while copper infusion naturally conducts heat away from your body to help optimize sleep cycles.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of conducts

Verb

Parks workers who don't comply with the new policy could face discipline, officials said, adding, the policy also instructs them to not engage in any verbal or physical altercations with ICE agents.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Rama intervenes and instructs Lakshmana to disfigure Shurpanakha.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of instructs

Verb

His devotion ultimately requires him to submit to Rama; this is particularly evident when Rama orders him to abandon Sita.

— Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Continue reading … COURT ORDER — Judge orders Trump to sit for deposition in his $10B defamation lawsuit against BBC.

— , FOXNews.com, 23 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

Yesica Fabiana Leviñanco steers her small wooden boat while her partner, Paulo Vera Perez, dives into the cold ocean waters off the coast of southern Chile.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
The band frequently steers the poppy songwriting offroad by leaning into distortion and ambience, creating moments of both near-mania and hazy unease.

— Sue Park, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of steers

Verb

The style channels the early-2000s look with a low rise and a relaxed, slouchy fit.

— Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
In the photo, Consuelos, 55, transforms into Spider-Man, sporting the web-slinging superhero’s signature red-and-blue suit, while Ripa, 56, channels Yelena Belova in a tactical green ensemble.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026