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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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
Daly said Fed officials haven't received any specific directives from the Trump Administration on how to do their jobs.
—
Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
And that’s a problem for me because these leaders were following the lawful directives of the civilian leaders of the past administration.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2025
Half way through the lengthy document is a directive that would obliterate an obscure but critically important calculation the government uses to gauge the real-world costs that climate change is imposing on the U.S. economy.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 21 Feb. 2025
The flurry of changes triggered by the directive has led to the erasure of articles featuring NASA astronomers from underrepresented communities that the agency published in years past, like this one.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
And that’s a problem for me because these leaders were following the lawful directives of the civilian leaders of the past administration.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2025
Half way through the lengthy document is a directive that would obliterate an obscure but critically important calculation the government uses to gauge the real-world costs that climate change is imposing on the U.S. economy.
—Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 21 Feb. 2025
The flurry of changes triggered by the directive has led to the erasure of articles featuring NASA astronomers from underrepresented communities that the agency published in years past, like this one.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for directive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directive
Noun
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The instructions said the test would take 20 minutes and require a pack of lancets.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
-
In the Fort Worth Independent School District and across Texas, conversations about literacy instruction have largely focused on the early grades.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Very little of what Musk says, what the government has said in court cases challenging many of his decrees, and what federal agencies have actually done overlap.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
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Last October, one of Khamenei’s senior advisers asserted that if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear sites, the supreme leader might reconsider his earlier decrees outlawing the development and use of weapons of mass destruction.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Hobart City Council on Wednesday approved a memorandum of agreement toward the formation of a joint task force with the town of Merrillville.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
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An influential part of finalizing the decision was a ten-year exclusivity memorandum of understanding with the Italian craftsman’s organization Artisans of Florence, which oversees the operation of da Vinci museums across Italy, France, South Korea, Australia, and Brazil.—
Francesca Aton,
ARTnews.com,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The historical irony of an order, essentially a government edict, striking so hard at one of the nation’s 35 accredited TCUs, or Tribal Colleges & Universities, does not escape him.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
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Despite event cancellations and temporary closures at other presidential centers, the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin remains unaffected by edicts from Washington, a top official tells Axios.—
Asher Price,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Cordeiro, sitting in court in a prison jumpsuit, wiped away tears as the ruling was delivered.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN,
22 Feb. 2025
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Two years after the deportation ruling, Colmenares was back on DHS' radar after a weapons charge in the Chicago area last October.—
Matt Finn,
Fox News,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan and higher education expert, told Newsweek that while the precise timeline is uncertain, borrowers should expect at least a month's notice before needing to transition to a new plan.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
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These notices are part of Britain's legal framework for national security, requiring tech companies to maintain specific technical capabilities for accessing user data when presented with proper legal authorization.—
Esat Dedezade,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sometimes, the goal is simply to get your tax planning in order — or figure out a new way to make payments.—
Susan Tompor,
USA TODAY,
24 Feb. 2025
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President Trump is threatening to withhold federal funds to governors in order to force compliance with his agenda.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, whose district includes Mission Bay, said the organizers must suffer the consequences of their bad decisions.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
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She’s warned that filing the complaint will be an irreversible decision.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Directive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directive. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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