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as in to inaugurate
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies initiated her as Surgeon General before an army of reporters and photographers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word initiate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of initiate are begin, commence, inaugurate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How does the word begin relate to other synonyms for initiate?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for initiate?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When would inaugurate be a good substitute for initiate?

The meanings of inaugurate and initiate largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to initiate?

While the synonyms start and initiate are close in meaning, start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of initiate?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 initiate The primary ratings range from Dark Green for industry leaders (producers with 30-40 buttons) to yellow for those initiating CanopyStyle commitments (producers with 10-19 buttons). Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 16 Oct. 2025 There were no reports of any illnesses when Wholesale Produce Supply initiated the recall. News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 In September, Covington Schools conducted an internal investigation and followed the processes outlined in its student code of conduct, including notifying law enforcement and initiating student disciplinary actions, the district said. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025 The president had urged the Justice Department to bring charges against both: James had brought a civil suit against Trump during the 2024 campaign, Comey initiated an investigation into Trump’s links to Russia ahead of the 2016 election. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • Politically, the affluence manifested in Long Island establishing itself as a bastion of the Republican Party, showing strong support for Hoover in his doomed Presidential campaign against Roosevelt.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, are continuing their efforts to facilitate dialogue and to broker progress on key measures such as reopening border crossings, delivering aid, and establishing future governance structures for Gaza.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • So in 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases formally recommended parents introduce children under the age of 3 to allergens like nuts.
    Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Aquatic nuisance species are non-native plants and animals that can cause ecological or economic harm, or even harm to human health if introduced to a body of water.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Eisenman has also broadened the brand’s appeal to bring in other generations, most recently inaugurating a 360-degree campaign with new global ambassador Leighton Meester.
    Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • After Kibaki’s victory was declared, the president was inaugurated in a strange dusk ceremony that infuriated Odinga’s camp.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Days after Sora 2 launched, TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube filled with tutorials on how to scrub out its tiny watermark — the only clue AI made a clip.
    Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
  • When Allswell first launched, it was positioned as a stylish, affordable alternative to big-name mattress brands.
    Rebecca Grambone, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The four original Kiss members were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
  • True greatness will get most NFL players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The bad news is that there are already murmurs in Brussels about piecemeal, incremental measures – harmonizing certain national laws, creating yet another framework for EU member states to fuss over and interpret.
    Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The series is created, written, directed and executive produced by Levinson and produced in partnership with A24.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
  • If a team switches frequently in and out of tempo plays, scouts can bring that back to coaches, who will install similar periods in practice.
    Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • European founders are already building solutions, with companies like SAEKI in Switzerland pioneering on-demand additive manufacturing, or Germany’s RobCo providing modular robotic systems.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Antioch Police Department helped pioneer the effort in 2015, shortly before multiple scandals ripped through the agency amid claims of widespread civil rights abuses, violent arrest tactics and racist policing.
    Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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