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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 Scientific organizations also initiated studies within Vietnam during the war, finding widespread destruction of mangroves, economic losses of rubber and timber plantations, and harm to lakes and waterways. Pamela McElwee, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025 The Trump Administration revoked visas from students, including some with green cards who were permanent residents, and initiated deportation proceedings. Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Despite the various ways Francis initiated reforms and made appointments, there is still a long way to go until women are given greater roles and responsibility in the church. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025 Continue similar pruning and fertilizing after more growth through August to have a sizeable plant with multiple stems by fall when the flowering process is initiated. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • Reuters was not immediately able to establish his identity.
    USA Today, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The underpinnings of a global order can be traced to the age of discovery, when Europeans first learned to circumnavigate the globe, then established a presence at vast distances, and followed that with empires.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Blue Tab also introduces a heavyweight white T-shirt and a chambray work shirt.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 2 May 2025
  • This post contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*. Thunderbolts* introduces one of the more unassuming villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Some guy named Bob walking around barefoot in his pajamas.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • In Vietnam, dusty provincial museums and newer, sleeker ones inaugurated for the 50th anniversary echo the sentiment in reverse, displaying mannequins of wily peasant farmers taking on the U.S. war machine.
    Made by History, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
  • When Trump was inaugurated for his second term on Jan. 20, his administration came prepared -- shattering the record for the most executive orders signed on the first day in office.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trader Joe's and its popular mini tote bags In April, Trader Joe's launched its mini canvas tote bags just in time for Easter.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Amazon Amazon still has not launched their Switch 2 preorder page, which seems ridiculous.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Tight end Antonio Gates, a former Charger, will officially be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Aug. 2, alongside cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Tracks from any of the approximately 400 legends will be eligible, including judge Lionel Richie, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump 100 days: Former president's success created measuring stick for future leaders Poll: Trump loses trust on the economy as 100-day mark nears From Trump to Reagan: Their first 100 days Trump promised to improve the economy on Day 1.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • For the annual event, her millinery goes through about 700 yards of silk and, like White’s design, can create hats with 50 or more petal pieces that are hand sewn together.
    Morgan Evans, Vogue, 3 May 2025
Verb
  • The no-reboot security fixes would download and install in the background, deployed within the in-memory code of already running processes.
    Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • To quickly install that many charging stations is unrealistic and costly for Maryland taxpayers who would be forced to foot the bill.
    Albert R. Wynn, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The White Lotus season 3 star recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming TV project, which reboots the book series' story with a new cast after he and lead actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson pioneered the novels' first adaptation on the big screen across eight films.
    Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Additionally, the large cloud service providers today have pioneered many of their AI capabilities through their cloud suites, meaning that this is the easiest way customers can access and take advantage of these tools.
    Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, M.D., Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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