Definition of directionnext
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as in compass
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in trend
a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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 direction The science is pointing the same direction veterinarians have for years. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026 There’s a too-much-ness to Street Fighter that extends beyond its tone to an overstuffed and awkwardly unfurled plot that sends characters scrambling in all directions to no particular end. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 The event, held in the museum’s Great Court, will feature artistic direction by Es Devlin and a performance by Wyclef Jean. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Today, the direction of travel in the region is redundancy and resilience. — semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for direction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction
Noun
  • That role demands reliable equipment capable of transmitting strategic instructions during severe national security crises.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Gartner expects more than 40% of agentic AI projects, which are projects built on AI that acts on its own rather than waiting for instructions, to be scrapped by the end of 2027, citing escalating costs and unclear business value among the reasons.
    — Ciaran Cosgrave, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • White said Salvation Brands is not to be confused with the big brand management firms such as Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, which are getting all the attention these days.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities in both countries were investigating the cyber incidents, which exposed vulnerabilities in some older refrigeration management systems and in the countries' highly efficient food supply chains.
    — JOHN LEICESTER, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • From brand to content, quality as a compass Which still meant for Haylaz crafting quality content, based on impactful characters kids could relate to.
    — Kevin Giraud, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Can this compass take you to the Olive Garden in Times Square?
    — Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The asymmetrical hemline of the sweater is right on trend and makes the whole look feel much more intentional, while the slouchy silhouette still looks polished enough for a coffee run after landing.
    — Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Both trends held true, although barely, as the Hurricanes needed two overtimes to survive another upset bid on a day filled with chaotic finishes and upsets.
    — Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Eight finalists will compete in a series of challenges inspired by the skills required to make each and every order.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Roberts had moved Shohei Ohtani down to sixth in the batting order and put Will Smith behind him.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • They were released under judicial supervision and barred from leaving France.
    — SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Hartbower had an outstanding felony arrest warrant on an assault charge out of Yuba City, in neighboring Sutter County, and was on post-release community supervision in Yuba County, police said.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Amid a national migration crisis, four young Cuban artists go against the tide and choose to stay.
    — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Though Kansas hasn’t elected a Democratic senator in almost a century, the tide may be turning.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The edict is to transform the operating model when the market fundamentally shifts so the company can thrive in a changing environment.
    — Erik Clarke, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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