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
Following a now-familiar political strategy, the order instructs Vance to work with Congress to tie the Smithsonian’s future funding directly to the administration’s directives.
—
Melissa Noel, Essence, 28 Mar. 2025
The White House touted Thursday’s directive as necessary to end union obstruction at agencies with critical security responsibilities, but the unions said the order eliminates labor protections for hundreds of thousands of civil servants.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Even today, farmers have land-use rights but do not own their land, which deprives them of capital and subjects them to party directives on how to use it.
—Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
Though with the economy in a precarious position, and if 2024 is any indicator, state employees might just endure the unpopular return-to-office directive this year.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Melissa Noel, Essence, 28 Mar. 2025
The White House touted Thursday’s directive as necessary to end union obstruction at agencies with critical security responsibilities, but the unions said the order eliminates labor protections for hundreds of thousands of civil servants.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Even today, farmers have land-use rights but do not own their land, which deprives them of capital and subjects them to party directives on how to use it.
—Ian Johnson, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025
Though with the economy in a precarious position, and if 2024 is any indicator, state employees might just endure the unpopular return-to-office directive this year.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
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Through the years, North talked about his experiences as a child actor, saying producers were most interested in obtaining a performance out of him while his schooling was neglected, despite California laws requiring three hours of instruction a day for child actors.—
Stacy Perman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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The apprentices also earn a progressive wage beginning at $15 an hour and technical instruction provided by the state Department of Education, among other benefits.—
Lena Miano,
Arkansas Online,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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South Korea’s Yoon defends his martial law decree in first public appearance since arrest The trial has also stirred concerns that South Korea is seeing the resurgence of an authoritarian far right.—
Max Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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In the near term, the tariffs will affect the cost of sporting goods, sneakers and apparel, much of which are made outside the country in countries including China, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam, all subject to higher tariffs under Trump’s Wednesday decree.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But Tyler’s only responsibilities were to create the system, implement it and support it, the vendor said in its memorandum.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2025
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In 2022, Washington and Amman signed a memorandum of understanding that promised $1.45 billion in U.S. aid to the kingdom over seven years.—
Curtis R. Ryan,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The changes outlined in the memo could deal another setback to the ranks of the department’s most experienced nonpolitical career prosecutors, who have been subjected to a wave of firings, forced transfers and policy edicts since Mr. Trump’s inauguration.—
Devlin Barrett,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
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Such wasn’t the case for other pages involving minorities and women, because the department said those pages violated the Trump administration’s edict against DEI, which stands for diversity, equity and inclusion.—
Terence Moore,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In a statement, CBS Media Ventures said the ruling will be immediately appealed.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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After an appeal by Mayor Isabelle Mézières, another court affirmed the previous ruling last month.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When the notice did arrive, agency officials immediately confronted a set of difficult choices.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
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The states in their lawsuit say the mass firings violated the federal law requiring agencies to give them advance notice of mass layoffs, and would lead to a spike in unemployment claims and demand for social services.—
Daniel Wiessner,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In order to mitigate impacts on patients, the lawmakers urged Greer and Lutnick to consider the impacts tariffs would have on medicines and medical products.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
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The Justice Department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit to halt that order, and while its request was pending, asked the Supreme Court to intervene.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Freire defended his title twice before dropping a decision to Daniel Straus in November 2015.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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And what were the reasons for such a different decision?—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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