DIRECTIVES Synonyms: 84 Similar and Opposite Words

directives

noun

plural of directive

as in instructions

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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as in decrees

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 memorandums

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

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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 directives Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain concluded that Olson violated two department directives, including rules governing conduct unbecoming an officer and conduct toward fellow employees. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Individual campuses in the CSU and UC can create their own policies in addition to systemwide directives. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 In a statement, ICE downplayed the significance of the memo, which said the new guidance was intended to replace and amend prior directives issued earlier this year, last year and in 2018. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026 How could one holy book give its readers such seemingly contradictory directives? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 Some have done so, the prosecutor explained, by slow-walking directives of dubious merit, such as orders to investigate voter fraud by noncitizens—a phenomenon that Trump has falsely claimed is rampant. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 This action follows previous directives this summer aimed at regulating data center expansion. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Glass is no stranger to such responsibilities after serving as the top cop at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the past four and half years while leading the agency’s directives and missions. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives

Noun

Synthetic mRNA delivers the instructions on these specific targets, allowing the body to present them to immune cells.

— Mike McRae October 25, New Atlas, 26 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of instructions

Noun

Sánchez's government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week when right-wing opposition parties voted down emergency decrees introduced by his government to address evictions and real estate speculation.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Right-wing opposition parties joined forces to scuttle two emergency decrees introduced by Sánchez's government that included measures to reduce evictions and real estate speculation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrees

Noun

Decisions often get made in a room by people who trust one another, without committee memoranda or quarterly reporting obligations.

— Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
As of Friday afternoon, neither daughter had filed their sentencing memorandums.

— Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of memorandums

Noun

Pro teams also tend to follow league edicts, especially since teams and their owners are contractually bound to their leagues.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 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 edicts

Noun

To circumvent the council’s rulings, Khan created a development corporation, a mayoral body that could take control of the area and assume planning powers from the council.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
Courts across the country have delivered conflicting rulings on the issue, and many expect the Supreme Court will likely be needed to resolve the dispute.

— Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of rulings

Noun

For now, courts have blocked the most consequential provisions of both orders, primarily on the ground that the President has no lawful authority to impose them.

— Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
The company has not said whether the expansion will require more robots on Philadelphia sidewalks or whether its existing fleet will handle the additional orders.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of orders

Noun

The two built the models that modern central banks use to stabilize the economy, shifting macro policymakers’ focus from big economic variables like inflation and unemployment to the actual decisions of individuals.

— Dario Marino, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
All of those decisions are risky, and Apple’s riskiest decision was the Duo’s size and shape.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of decisions

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directive

directives

directly

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“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of directives

noun

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