1
as in incumbent
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
reporting signs of physical abuse is now an imperative duty for hospital and school personnel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in necessary
impossible to do without
proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligation
something one must do because of prior agreement
although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperative
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
For better or worse, the relationship between the buyer and the seller can be imperative.
—
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
Reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources for critical medical products is not only a public health priority but also a national security imperative.
—
W. Craig Vanderwagen,
STAT,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Adjective
Scaringe noted that competition is a good thing, options for charging is a good thing, but that up time and chargers actually working is imperative.
—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
10 June 2026
For better or worse, the relationship between the buyer and the seller can be imperative.
—
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
In that imperative, distinctions between mediums and genres blur as we are pressured to translate our cultural production into that form of direct address.
—
Shanti Escalante-De Mattei,
ARTnews.com,
16 June 2026
Reducing America’s dependence on foreign sources for critical medical products is not only a public health priority but also a national security imperative.
—
W. Craig Vanderwagen,
STAT,
16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperative
Adjective
-
Instead, agents enhance incumbent platforms, making data owners more valuable.
-
Video allegedly shows clerk ripping up ballots Randy Stith, former Hempstead Board of Education president, said video and photos show the school district clerk smuggling absentee ballots for the incumbent candidate.
Adjective
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Ashton's journey from moving bins to cleaning them demonstrates that a complete roadmap isn't necessary; curiosity and taking the next step are crucial.
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This week, investors are looking at the huge sums being spent and questioning whether AI can produce the profits and productivity necessary to make all the investment worth it.
Adjective
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Jett is nonverbal and has a mental health condition, police said, making the search especially urgent.
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Last month, many of those companies gathered alongside military officials to address what was clearly an urgent problem requiring novel solutions.
Noun
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Follow evacuation instructions without delay.
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Supporters argued Judeo-Christian traditions are fundamental to the nation's founding and should be reflected in classroom instruction.
Noun
-
If a joint bill or obligation appears unexpectedly, review the details together, then document who will do what by when.
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Other types of debts that are not eligible for debt settlement plans include federal student loans and most tax obligations.
Adjective
-
Letters from lawmakers have gone unanswered and required reports unfiled.
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All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America.
Adjective
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Those approvals allow crews to begin building essential site infrastructure before full production activities start.
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Therefore, building mental endurance is essential to staving off decision fatigue and reducing the judgment errors that tend to surface when a leader's cognitive reserves run low.
Adjective
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Doctors suspected acute leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer that can develop and progress in a matter of weeks.
-
Combining Football Password Data The problem of using football information in passwords is even more acute when combined with other data.
Cite this Entry
“Imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperative. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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