1
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
2
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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3
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
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Recent Examples of directive
South African company AngloGold Ashanti, US firm Newmont Mining, and China’s Zijin received the directive from authorities between last October and January, Reuters reported.
—
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Some relief has come after four-hour security checkpoint waits in some airports nationwide prompted a late-March presidential directive ensuring DHS employees — including TSA officers — receive backpay.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Looking forward, the agency said future contracts should have better oversight under a new NASA workforce directive, outlined in a memo obtained by NASA Watch.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, this directive, in my opinion, has been ignored.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Some relief has come after four-hour security checkpoint waits in some airports nationwide prompted a late-March presidential directive ensuring DHS employees — including TSA officers — receive backpay.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Looking forward, the agency said future contracts should have better oversight under a new NASA workforce directive, outlined in a memo obtained by NASA Watch.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, this directive, in my opinion, has been ignored.
—Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
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Gukesh’s calm at the board was buttressed by an unusual focus in his training, on psychology, alongside the more traditional tactical and strategic instruction.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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Start with a fertilizer program of once in March, May and October using an 8-0-12-4Mg for palms developed by the University of Florida following label instructions.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Abbas signed a decree last year reforming elections in line with some demands of Western donors, including to allow voting for individuals rather than slates.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The visit, led by officials tied to the White House’s energy policy apparatus, is expected to produce memorandums of understanding covering oil and key minerals such as gold, aluminum and possibly coal.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Sacramento City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a memorandum of understanding to study the possible zoo expansion in William Land Park.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That worries Thomas Johnson, a Black voter in New Orleans who was at the state Capitol to lobby on unrelated legislation Wednesday when the Supreme Court ruling came down.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The committee does not explain the reasoning behinds its rulings – the season’s fourth and final batch of rulings were made today – but despite her prominence in the revival’s marketing campaign her role as the wife of Nathan Lane’s Willy Loman apparently was deemed a supporting character.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The notice states 170,169 vehicles with hybrid systems built between November 2020 and January 2024 are affected by the issue, making the recall the biggest since Jaguar and Land Rover merged in 2008.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
27 Apr. 2026
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The Commission issues between 700 and 1,000 decisions, notices of consultation, regulatory policies, reports, and orders every year.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Crews made fast work of a 10-acre fire that erupted in brush in the vicinity of the SoCal Sports complex and Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, briefly prompting an order that people in the area shelter in place Friday.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
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About a decade ago the artist Paul Chan (no relation) began affixing fans to the bases of humanoid sculptures, made from cylindrical nylon tubes, in order to animate them.—
Dawn Chan,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While Saudi Arabia and OPEC had no immediate reaction, Emirati Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei insisted his country’s decision did not stem from any dispute with its Gulf neighbor.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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This is basically every aerophobic flier’s worst nightmare, and Harlin does a solid job of maintaining the fear factor and shock right up to the moment of Rich’s decision to dump fuel and ditch, since the nearest airport, Guam, is out of range.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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