1
2
3
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 However, our study found that mitochondria can detect a specific bacterial byproduct – lactate – and use that signal to initiate NET formation. Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025 Deputy Chief Laura Ragusa, the department’s chief medical officer, initiated the audit and analyzed the data after receiving field reports from department supervisors who were concerned about the level of care patients were receiving from the department’s emergency responders. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025 The proceedings were initiated following a complaint filed by La Liga, which joined the case as a private prosecutor. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 16 June 2025 The beloved shortstop wanted to be in Boston for his entire career, and even initiated a team-friendly extension to further that dream. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • And the state Riley Act, also passed in 1933, required California local governments to establish a building department and inspect new construction.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025
  • For this historic journey, Kipyegon utilized male pacers to help establish the pace of the race.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • According to the lawsuit, Thomas was introduced by women's swimming head coach Mike Schnur to the women's swimmers during a team meeting in Fall 2019 as their incoming teammate.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • Despite the Maxton Hall books publishing in 2018, more readers will now be introduced to the books for the first time.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • That August, Hoffman sat for Giard and inaugurated the project.
    Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 June 2025
  • The capture of this first whaler on June 22 inaugurated the Shenandoah’s most spectacular run, unlike any the raider had enjoyed during its eight months seeking out and destroying Union merchant vessels.
    Francine Uenuma, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • In this photo released by the Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, a missile is launched from a boat during a naval drill in the Persian Gulf, Iran.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
  • On Monday June 23, 2025, Iran launched a missile strike on the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar—a retaliatory move following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
    Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
    Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
  • Regularly appearing on lists of the funniest and most romantic films ever made, the tale of Westley and the Princess Buttercup was even inducted into the National Film Registry in 2016.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • This card asks you to retreat, reflect, and create space for healing.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025
  • Patil and Lindell are now working to create probiotic supplements to increase the amount of the beneficial microbes in people's guts to help protect against harms from PFAS.
    Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • The mayor could install one of his cronies who has no experience in running a large transit agency like the CTA.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
  • Trim trees; install storm shutters, accordion shutters, and/or impact glass; seal outside wall openings.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 June 2025
Verb
  • For example, The Internet Archive pioneered non-destructive book scanning methods that preserve physical volumes while creating digital copies.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 June 2025
  • Plaintiffs also say the Riverside coach often used cash from his considerable financial resources—Lorch was a corporate attorney and at one time the CEO of an investment firm that pioneered the leveraged buyout—to silence the players.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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