Thesaurus

initiate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of initiate

1 to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of

no one knows who initiated written language

Synonyms of initiate

begin, constitute, establish, found, inaugurate, innovate, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Words Related to initiate

author, father, originate

conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up)

construct, put up

develop, enlarge, expand

endow, finance, fund, subsidize

arrange, organize, systematize, systemize

refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch

Near Antonyms of initiate

abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify

end, finish, halt, stop, terminate

round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

Antonyms of initiate

close (down), phase out, shut (up)

2 to impart knowledge of a new thing or situation to

initiated the new recruits in the unspoken laws of military conduct

Synonyms of initiate

accustom, acquaint, familiarize, introduce, orient, orientate

Words Related to initiate

habituate, wont

apprise, brief, clue (in), fill in, inform

educate, enlighten, ground, instruct, school, train, verse

expose, present, subject

advise, tell, tip (off), warn, wise (up)

3 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 of initiate

baptize, inaugurate, induct, install, instate, invest, seat

Words Related to initiate

consecrate, enshrine

accept, admit, receive, take in

enlist, enroll (also enrol)

Near Antonyms of initiate

can, discharge, fire, terminate

Synonym Discussion of initiate

begin, commence, start, initiate, inaugurate, usher in mean to take the first step in a course, process, or operation. begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable. begin, opposed to end, is the most general.

- begin a trip
- began dancing

start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

- the work started slowly

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

- commence firing
- commenced a conversation

initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

- initiated diplomatic contacts

inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

- the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

- ushered in a period of economic decline

Learn More about initiate

See words that rhyme with initiate Dictionary: Definition of initiate Spanish Central: Translation of initiate Nglish: Translation of initiate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of initiate for Arabic speakers

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