as in letter
a message on paper from one person or group to another
the two old friends like to fire off missives filled with good-natured teasing and mock insults
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Recent Examples of missive
In one memorable incident, a woman posted a lengthy missive on the company’s Facebook page about her daughter’s medical claim for an insulin pump being denied.
—
Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
As the killer evades the grasp of both Cristina and the police, the missives become more pervasive, changing form, at once taunting and tormented, philosophical and unhinged.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
There is also apparently some discord within the Trump administration about the Musk missives.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
Each letter comes across as a set piece, a small achievement of style and tone: Vasari’s flowery, deferential missives to the duke, Maria’s youthful ardor and confusion, the overly pious cattiness of a nun.
—Chelsea Leu, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missive
Dan Gingiss, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
As the killer evades the grasp of both Cristina and the police, the missives become more pervasive, changing form, at once taunting and tormented, philosophical and unhinged.
—Katie Kitamura, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
There is also apparently some discord within the Trump administration about the Musk missives.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
Each letter comes across as a set piece, a small achievement of style and tone: Vasari’s flowery, deferential missives to the duke, Maria’s youthful ardor and confusion, the overly pious cattiness of a nun.
—Chelsea Leu, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for missive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missive
Noun
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In 2013, the FBI got a letter that claimed to be from John Anglin, CNN affiliate KPIX reported.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
11 May 2025
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Trace posted a follow-up message after his first letter, claiming his adoptive father was threatening him with legal action over the initial letter.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
Noun
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As a proud dad, the 38-year-old wrote his firstborn a sweet epistle to acknowledge his birthday.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
7 Feb. 2025
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One of the earliest witnesses to the spread of Christianity, the codex features the first epistle of Peter and the Book of Jonah.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN,
3 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Missive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missive. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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