EXECUTIVE Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

executive 1 of 2

adjective

ig-ˈze-k(y)ə-tiv

Definition of executive

as in administrative

suited for or relating to the directing of things the executive skills needed to manage a large business office

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

executive

2 of 2

noun

as in manager

a person who manages or directs something a program that teaches company executives how to better manage their staffs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 executive

Adjective

Garry Nolan is professor in the Department of Pathology at Stanford University School of Medicine and is executive director of the board of the Sol Foundation. — Leonard David, Space.com, 11 July 2026 Wembanyama's contract caught the attention of NBPA executive director David Kelly, who spoke with reporters in Las Vegas at summer league. — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Noun

Some team executives and agents have considered the second apron, set at just under $222 million this coming season, as a de facto hard cap since its inception. — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 4 July 2026 Most of us, for instance, are not the oil company executives who were told about the effects of CO2 emissions back in the 1970s and decided that the threat to their business outweighed the threat to the planet. — Gabriel Winslow-Yost, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for executive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for executive

Adjective

The measure says revenues cannot be spent on state bureaucracy or administrative costs.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Recently, the Illinois Register proposed amending the administrative code to update the definitions of the various alcohol categories solely by their production process — not their alcohol content.

— Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Definition of administrative

Noun

Clement, whose own All-Star rise was influenced by Mattingly, praised his former coach's success, noting his reunion with his son, the Phillies' general manager.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
Cole had dominated the Dodgers over six innings when New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out for a visit.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of manager

Adjective

And his questions were raised as Mattingly's influence has become increasingly visible in Philadelphia following the club's managerial change.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
That set up some managerial chess, with Baltimore sending lefty-swinging Dylan Beavers up to pinch-hit, only for Chicago to replace Ferguson with left-hander Ryan Rolison.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of managerial

Noun

Washington remembers meeting with Current executive director of community relations DePrice Taylor when she was first hired in 2022 about how Kansas City’s Eastside could get free soccer opportunities.

— PJ Green July 11, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
At Karlovy Vary Film Festival this week, the 10 participants of Future Frames – the program for young European directors – were joined by Greek director Christos Nikou as their mentor.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 11 July 2026

Definition of director

Noun

At the local level, administrators often complain there is little clarity on what is expected of them and, too often, outright conflict.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Academic administrator Joe O’Shea studied gap years and found that gap year alumni return with greater confidence, self-awareness and readiness for their next steps.

— DJ Didonna, Time, 13 July 2026

Definition of administrator

Noun

Shaw, a conservative activist who is president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board, pointed out in an X post that voters had previously rejected four attempts to reshape the superintendent’s office.

— Lia Russell July 10, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Carpenter was previously superintendent of the Hickman Mills School District from 2013-2017, then led the Lee’s Summit School District from 2017-2019 and briefly lived in Georgia before returning to the South Kansas City district.

— Ilana Arougheti July 10, Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Definition of superintendent

Noun

According to Embry, the Centre Station Post Office is remotely managed, with supervisors typically stationed at the larger Arden Branch a mile and a half away.

— Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026
Designed by Teiyu Goto, a product design supervisor at the Sony Creative Center at the time, the VAIO logo continued to represent the brand even after Sony sold the business to Japan Industrial Partners in 2014.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 July 2026

Definition of supervisor

Browse Nearby Words

executions

executive

executives

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Executive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/executive. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of executive

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on executive

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

accentuate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes