initiates

Definition of initiatesnext
present tense third-person singular of initiate
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3
as in inaugurates
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

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 initiates And yet dealmaking, the act that initiates the entire relationship, operates in a kind of contractual no-man’s-land where no clock runs and no consequence attaches to delay. George Heller, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026 Canaccord initiates Seer as buy Canaccord says the biotech company is attractive. Michael Bloom, CNBC, 4 May 2026 Russian drone incursions last year prompted Poland to formally invoke NATO's Article 4, which initiates official consultations among allies regarding a direct security threat. David Brennan, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 Don’t try any physical contact, including a handshake, unless the royal initiates it. Veronica Bravo, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 The shot attempts aren’t high, but few possessions go to waste when Towns initiates offense. James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 The office typically initiates communication by letter, Settle said. Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 Incidents when a person intentionally or unintentionally initiates contact, including spearfishing and releasing sharks from nets or hooks, are not included in the report. Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiates
Verb
  • The county board establishes goals and priorities every year on which the superintendent is evaluated.
    Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
  • The system establishes operational standards through its three main functions that develop incentives while tracking performance and ensuring projects meet actual environmental requirements.
    Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • The latest version introduces many more enhancements than in recent years, including auto-payroll, better document management, employee self-onboarding, geolocation for Time and Attendance, and new health benefits integrations.
    Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 6 May 2026
  • The changes have been happening slowly at McDonald's restaurants across the nation — including Texas — as the fast-food giant's modernization plan introduces computerized kiosks where customers can order.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Welcome to the wild world of casting non-professional actors, a practice that is in the spotlight this year as the Academy inaugurates the casting Oscar.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the India AI Impact Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi, on Monday.
    Jared Perlo, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Last year, people searching for missing relatives founds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments at what authorities later said was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and training site.
    Fabiola Sanchez, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
  • Last year, people searching for missing relatives founds piles of shoes and other clothing, as well as bone fragments, at what authorities later said was a Jalisco cartel recruitment and training site.
    Garrett Haake, NBC news, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
  • The Santa Ana Unified School District, which educates some 35,000 students across 52 campuses, was impacted, though.
    Kristy Hutchings, Daily News, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • The Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts both non-performers and performers alike each year.
    Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
  • The contract establishes minimum wage rates for daily and weekly work and inducts intimacy coordinators into the union health and pension plans.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • As Mars pushes against Jupiter, doing too much creates confusion.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
  • The combination creates a vortex effect, which pulls hot ash, embers and debris into a spinning column.
    Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • Because the software installs locally, users retain full access to their files and applications even when offline.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 3 May 2026
  • According to Chilsen, in recent years Switch Together – which works with Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane counties but is also available to Kendall, McHenry and Will residents – has completed 673 solar installations and, as a newer part to the program, 65 battery installs and 35 EV charger installs.
    Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Initiates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiates. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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