directions

noun

plural of direction
1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned we were given very specific directions for the first part of the exam

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in managements
the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor

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3
as in compasses
a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

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

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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 directions Metal forks are stored handles downward and plastic forks are positioned both directions for patron self service. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 For another, turning my head just sent the view spinning in different directions in a way that quickly threatened nausea. — Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 The play combines the dramatic load of an Ibsen drama with the rat-a-tat rhythms of a Neil Simon comedy — styles that often pull in opposite directions. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 Whether your pre-arrival note goes out with Wi-Fi, parking directions and a rough plan before the guest has to request them. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 How do cells with the same underlying molecular handedness produce bodies that can develop in opposite directions? — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026 Some developers also use the source code to take games in creative new directions, like adding Minecraft building mechanics to 2022's Elden Ring. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2026 Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026 In keeping with the film‘s maximalist vibe, the noise around it keeps whipsawing in different directions, with defenders calling it a misunderstood masterpiece and detractors equally fervent in calling it a complete artistic disaster. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directions
  1. instructions
  2. managements
  3. compasses
  4. trends
  5. orders
  6. operations
  7. purposes
  8. tendencies
Noun
  • Three days before the test, a hospital administrator from Southampton Hospital called to confirm the appointment and review the preparation instructions.
    — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the test showed how a human could direct a semi-autonomous platform while its software handled the details of executing instructions.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of instructions
Noun
  • Most managements feel that the — on the price of their shares — that the higher, the better.
    — Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These are different eras, and the respective managements are no longer the same, but something about this feels off.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
Definition of managements
Noun
  • Think vintage navy portholes, ship compasses, and aircraft fuselage.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The prevailing motifs include Anglo-American boarding schools and college campuses, accoutrements with a romantic aura (billowing sleeves, melting candles), and analog artifacts (old compasses, monocles).
    — Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026
Definition of compasses
Noun
  • Netflix has lost more than 40% of its value since June 2025 amid concerns about engagement trends and a lack of breakout hits.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to El Niño, regional climate trends over the past 15 years show a clear signal toward warmer winters across Lower Michigan.
    — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of trends
Noun
  • In the ensuing political turmoil, health workers went on strike, vaccine orders were delayed and follow-up vaccinations that usually accompany routine programs were disrupted.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Already, over Catholicism’s roughly 2,000-year history, women have become saints who founded missions and religious orders.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of orders
Noun
  • Marshall has consistently voted against Senate War Powers Resolutions aimed at halting or restricting military operations in Iran.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Russia's Ryazan oil refinery has suspended operations at a primary crude distillation unit after a drone attack in the region on Thursday, two industry sources told Reuters.
    — Arathy Somasekhar Reuters, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of operations
Noun
  • Combined with its co-founders' pledge to donate 80% of their equity and an employee donation matching program, roughly 20% of Anthropic's shares will be dedicated to public purposes, excluding any additional shares added later.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Preliminary findings indicate Wilcher accessed it on multiple occasions for non-law enforcement purposes, the GBI said.
    — CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of purposes
Noun
  • Maybe the shooting shook something loose in her and has amplified her worst tendencies.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These are broad tendencies, however, and do not guarantee how an individual storm or hurricane season will unfold.
    — Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tendencies

Browse Nearby Words

directionless
directions
directive
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Cite this Entry

“Directions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directions. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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