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

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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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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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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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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 Scott Windhauser directs from his own script. —

Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026 Co-written by its star Jack Holden and Ed Stambollouian, who directs, the play dramatizes the real-life violence of Ken McElroy, a man who terrorized a small town for years in rural Missouri. —

Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026 Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on The Idea of You, directs with Nick Antosca writing the script following the previous work of scribes Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna and the team of Will Honley and April Maguire. —

Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026 The item also directs the chief auditor to conduct an audit of how purchasing cards have been used in the district for the last year and authorizes general counsel to find an outside firm to investigate. —

Natalie La Roche Pietri, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026 Coffin, who also directs, will be joined by an impressive list of voice actors who include Trey Parker, Zoey Deutch, Jesse Eisenberg, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz and Jeff Bridges. —

Mark Meszoros, Twin Cities, 25 Apr. 2026 Miller serves as creator and showrunner, and executive produces alongside Moss, Warren Littlefield, Steve Stark, Shana Stein, Maya Goldsmith, John Weber, Sheila Hockin, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears and Barker, who directs the first three episodes and the season finale. —

Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026 The jury was instructed on the law of parties that holds a person criminally responsible for the conduct of another person if the defendant solicits, encourages, directs or aids the other person to commit an offense. —

Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026 The setup relies on a mobile emitter that directs energy to an antenna array mounted beneath the aircraft, enabling continuous power delivery without physical connections. —

Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directs

Verb

Swimming in ocean, river or lake water conducts the Earth’s charge similarly to direct skin contact.

— Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
And the movie, in its rather familiar way, conducts the electricity of Michael Jackson.

— Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 21 Apr. 2026