Synonyms of imperatives

imperatives

noun

plural of imperative

1

as in instructions

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

• instructions
• edicts
• directives
• orders
• directions
• commandments
• dos
• injunctions
• requirements
• words
• commands
• dictates
• decrees
• demands
• behests
• charges
• mandates
• rules
• laws
• precepts
• regulations
• prescriptions
• statutes
• ordinances
• prescripts
• counterorders
• countermands

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appeals
• petitions
• pleas
• recommendations
• proposals
• urgings
• entreaties
• suggestions

2

as in obligations

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

• obligations
• responsibilities
• needs
• duties
• commitments
• constraints
• requirements
• promises
• vows
• burdens
• offices
• pledges
• dos
• incumbencies
• pacts
• words
• charges
• oaths
• devoirs
• arrangements
• compulsions
• payments
• contracts
• restraints
• forces
• covenants
• debts
• compacts
• setups
• trusts
• appointments
• tributes
• reservations
• engagements
• musts
• coercions
• prearrangements
• troths
• duresses
• onuses

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exemptions
• graces
• waivers
• alternatives
• stays
• discharges
• options
• releases
• reliefs
• choices
• preferences
• postponements
• loopholes
• selections
• eases
• picks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of imperatives

The writers also cited Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets, arguing that Fox’s independent creative voice has essentially been subsumed by Disney’s corporate imperatives. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 July 2026

These strategic imperatives, demonstrated within healthcare, are crucial for any enterprise navigating today's dynamic environment. — Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Further, state leaders realize that the nation’s economic imperatives and our broader aspirations for education are two sides of the same coin. — Tim Knowles, Fortune, 8 July 2026

Efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains, upgrade advanced manufacturing, and invest heavily in strategic technologies, from cutting-edge semiconductors to next-generation 6G connectivity, are framed not merely as economic initiatives, but as imperatives of national security. — Yu Jie, Time, 13 May 2026

If allowed to stand, this poses problems for utilities, grid operators, and regulators who plan for decades-long timeframes, only to be overruled by short-term political imperatives that favor certain industries. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2026

In a new First Opinion essay, two researchers explain the importance of laboratories like this one, as well as the economic and moral imperatives to protect them. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 9 Apr. 2026

But there is no description that captures the many sides of the rabbi’s soul, and so Koestenbaum offers a gloriously Sisyphean attempt, a measure of respect for the human in all its biological imperatives and psychological complexity. — Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026