IMPERATIVES Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

imperatives

noun

plural of imperative

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 imperatives Rarely do Washington’s strategic imperatives and humanitarian principles align so neatly. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 Bringing the P&Ls together under single owners will reduce overlap, clarify accountability, and allow GMs to allocate capital more efficiently and effectively based on their strategic imperatives. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 2 Sep. 2026 Reinforce the importance of Corporate Taste and Capability as organizational imperatives to continue to maintain. — Nisha Talagala, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperatives

Noun

Qualifying stock is transferred to Treasury and allocated to eligible children according to donor instructions and Treasury guidance.

— Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
Next steps could include reducing the computational workload and connecting SANDO to machine-learning systems that accept plain-language instructions.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of instructions

Noun

The new rules would not restrict banks' ability to count housing tax credit investments toward their Community Reinvestment Act obligations, an administration official said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Anthropic doesn’t share much financial information with lenders and the exact level of its obligations struck some investors as unsettled.

— Ellen DiMauro, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of obligations

Noun

The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Many believe Beijing perceived Tung as a loyalist who would obey the Communist leadership’s edicts.

— Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of edicts

Noun

At Moontrail, creative direction, storytelling, emotional decisions and artistic judgment remain purely human responsibilities.

— Kevin Giraud, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Technical capabilities are evolving quickly, but so are the human skills needed to work effectively alongside AI, adapt to changing workflows and take on new responsibilities.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of responsibilities

Noun

Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives.

— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Individual campuses in the CSU and UC can create their own policies in addition to systemwide directives.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of directives

Noun

While many nations were already moving towards taking over their maternal and child health needs, lead times for orders can be a year or more, five former USAID officials said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment prohibit deliberate indifference to prisoners’ medical needs.

— Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of needs

Noun

Directing duties are shared by China’s Zhao Yilong and American filmmaker Shaun Piccinino.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
More than 1,500 potential voters signed up for a meeting of the Los Angeles Continuum of Care board to pick a replacement for the core duties of the beleaguered Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of duties

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imperative

imperatives

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“Imperatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperatives. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of imperatives

noun

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