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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 imperatives Unfortunately, when new imperatives are issued absent of a strategy – a shared goal, clear communication, and team supports – implementation is fragmented and reinforces the functional siloes that already exist. —

Shani Harmon, Forbes.com, 28 May 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 But where those efforts have been driven primarily by cultural imperatives, Prasad sees restoration increasingly as a commercial proposition – and one with global reach. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026 National security imperatives now suggest that Iran will go towards nuclear weapons — that their strategy over 20 years of trying to have an open nuclear program that could be monitored by [the International Atomic Energy Agency] was a mistake. —

Mishal Husain, Bloomberg, 13 Mar. 2026 Indeed, the Framers recognized these imperatives, along with the tension inherent between congressional authority and the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief. —

Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperatives

Noun

Bocce will be offering takeaway, both in the form of prepared food and things customers can cook at home, like pasta and sauces that come with instructions.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2026
The Missouri Health Department also recommends treating clothes, boots and outdoors gear with permethrin per label instructions.

— Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 8 June 2026