DIRECTIVE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

directive

noun

Definition of directive

as in instruction

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the company president regularly issues directives intended for all staff members

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decree

an order publicly issued by an authority a directive issued by the archbishop that is to be read during Sunday services at every parish

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as in memorandum

a written communication giving information or directions a growing stack of unread directives from the company's senior vice president

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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 directive Rankin said no directive was issued telling Hill not to use the money for teacher raises. — Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026 What happens when a presidential directive conflicts with state election law – or when courts intervene? — Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Industry watchers are awaiting any official guidelines for enforcement of its new directive, which may come from the Office of Director of National Intelligence (headed by task force chair Jay Clayton) and the Federal Trade Commission. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026 By August, bilateral talks between New Delhi and Washington, which had undergone several rounds, were on shaky ground due to India’s inclusion in the Section 301 forced labor tariff directive. — Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for directive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive

Noun

Believing her daughter’s life was on the line, Del Mastro followed the caller’s instructions for five hours.

— Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Over seven full-lengths, Butler has created a multi-volume instruction manual for transcendence.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

Penalties, consent agreements and decrees have not deterred Meta from using deceptive trade practices.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
The Honduran National Congress approved a decree in 2024 reversing previous state actions that opened the door to mining in Carlos Escaleras Mejía National Park.

— Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decree

Noun

Prosecutors, in a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this month, had requested the court impose a guidelines-damage sentence of 12 months in prison and a fine of $250,000.

— Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
The Montauketts’ attorney emailed the governor’s team a memorandum on basic legal principles regarding tribal sovereignty days before the 10-day signing window expired.

— Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of memorandum

Noun

The edict is to transform the operating model when the market fundamentally shifts so the company can thrive in a changing environment.

— Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

Meanwhile, companies are deploying AI agents by the thousand, and not one of them has read the company policy or heard the new local court ruling.

— Daniel Kjellén, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Meta didn’t respond, however, to my question about whether the ruling will or should shake Muse users’ confidence in Meta’s assurances of privacy protections.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruling

Noun

The prospect of a SpaceX-Tesla combo got rave notices from the research crews covering both companies.

— Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
The advance notice allowed Baugh and his colleagues to alert dozens of grooms living in the barns to evacuate before the flood reached them.

— Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of notice

Noun

In April 2025, Brad Smith announced that Microsoft would challenge any government order to suspend its European cloud operations through available legal avenues, including the courts.

— Margot Edelman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The quicker Wendy's rids itself of the meth addicts and prison-release system workers, the sooner this brand restores order.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

According to reporting by Semafor on Monday, the decision came after Wall Street executives privately raised safety concerns about attending the event with the event’s organizers, including Saudi sovereign fund PIF’s governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Prince Harry is opening up about his and wife Meghan Markle’s unexpected decision earlier this year to move back to the United Kingdom years after their dramatic fallout with the British royal family.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of decision

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directions

directive

directives

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“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of directive

noun

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