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
Scott Green, the NFLRA’s executive director, fired a missive that laid bare the current acrimony.
—
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
What is missing from Davidson’s missive is a single word, even a syllable, that acknowledges what three-fourths of the world’s nations, the UN and the International Court of Justice have labeled Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
As Martin recounts in her 2023 coffee-table missive Mamma Milano, the brand’s ethereal ethos was there from the start.
—Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
Among the signatories to the missive, which was organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) are artists Sophia Al-Maria, Yto Barrada, Merriam Bennani, Alfredo Jaar, Tal Shani, and Cauleen Smith.
—News Desk, Artforum, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missive
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
What is missing from Davidson’s missive is a single word, even a syllable, that acknowledges what three-fourths of the world’s nations, the UN and the International Court of Justice have labeled Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
As Martin recounts in her 2023 coffee-table missive Mamma Milano, the brand’s ethereal ethos was there from the start.
—Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
Among the signatories to the missive, which was organized by the Art Not Genocide Alliance (ANGA) are artists Sophia Al-Maria, Yto Barrada, Merriam Bennani, Alfredo Jaar, Tal Shani, and Cauleen Smith.
—News Desk, Artforum, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for missive
Noun
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In a letter to senators earlier this year, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that between January and November of last year, 261 DACA recipients were arrested and 86 were removed from the country.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
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His mother’s family has a history of males whose names begin with the letter R.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The main theme of the letters over time emphasizes long-term value creation, but the epistles have drawn criticism from the political left and right.—
byDebbie Carlson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Mar. 2026
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For example, in several Epistles, the apostle Paul speaks often about the Christian hope in God through Jesus Christ.—
Joanne M. Pierce,
The Conversation,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Missive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/missive. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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