as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the sentry showed remarkable initiative and uncommon bravery in foiling the terrorist attack
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Recent Examples of initiative
Infants are torn between trust and mistrust, preschoolers between initiative and guilt.
—
Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers face a May 5 deadline to enact initiative petitions.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Sharp Business Systems Sharp Business Systems is recognized for cultivating a positive work environment where teamwork and technical excellence are prioritized, and employees are encouraged to take initiative.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
The grant is expected to help inform the city’s safety action plan and its Vision Zero efforts, a national initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths.
—Meg Cunningham, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for initiative
Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers face a May 5 deadline to enact initiative petitions.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Sharp Business Systems Sharp Business Systems is recognized for cultivating a positive work environment where teamwork and technical excellence are prioritized, and employees are encouraged to take initiative.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026
The grant is expected to help inform the city’s safety action plan and its Vision Zero efforts, a national initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths.
—Meg Cunningham, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for initiative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiative
Noun
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But there will be an absence, one that has been felt at every national team camp since last July, which unites them more than any personal ambition.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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Porter was also the most extravagant in her promises, pledging to deliver universal healthcare to California — a years-old Democratic ambition — free child care, zero tuition at the state’s public universities and elimination of the state income tax for those earning less than $100,000.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Boys hockey Mason McGovern netted the winner with 40 seconds remaining to give Austin Prep a 3-2 victory over Hoosac in NEPSAC action.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Melissa Barrera, who starred in the fifth and sixth movies, was fired from the seventh installment in 2023 after expressing support for the Palestinian cause and criticizing Israeli actions in the Israel-Hamas war.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Much of Anthropic’s success stems from its enterprise contracts with big companies – many of which may have contracts with the Pentagon.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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With platinum plaques, festival stages, and a partnership with Scott that has evolved into a formidable creative enterprise, Chase B’s career stands at a pivotal inflection point.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initiative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiative. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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