imperative

1 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 of imperative compulsory, forced, mandatory, incumbent, involuntary, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, requiredWords Related to imperative all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite; insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent; demanded, enforced; coerciveNear Antonyms of imperative chosen, discretionary; dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted; inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportantAntonyms of imperative elective, optional, voluntary

2 impossible to do without proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment Synonyms of imperative all-important, critical, essential, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vitalWords Related to imperative prerequisite; compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory; consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty; basic, central, fundamental, key, organic; insistent, persistent, pressing, urgentNear Antonyms of imperative undesired, unwanted; inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant; excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplusAntonyms of imperative dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded

3 needing immediate attention an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country Synonyms of imperative burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, acute, imperious, importunate, instant, necessitous, pressing, urgentWords Related to imperative demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding; crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death (also life-or-death), serious, severe, vital; dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstableNear Antonyms of imperative incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant; nonthreatening, safe, stableAntonyms of imperative noncritical, nonurgent

1 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 of imperative behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, command, injunction, instruction, order, wordWords Related to imperative demand, requirement; mandate; countermand, counterorder; law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule; ordinance, regulation, statuteNear Antonyms of imperative appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging; proposal, recommendation, suggestion

2 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 of imperative burden, charge, commitment, devoir, do [archaic], duty, obligation, incumbency, need, office, responsibilityWords Related to imperative oath, pledge, promise, troth, vow, word; arrangement, prearrangement, setup; compact, contract, covenant, pact, trust; debt, payment, tribute; compulsion, constraint, restraint; must, requirement; coercion, duress, force; appointment, engagement, reservation; burden, onusNear Antonyms of imperative grace, postponement, stay; discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver; loophole; alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection