directives

noun

plural of directive
1
as in instructions
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 decrees
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 memorandums
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

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 directives Wednesday’s filing marks the latest escalation in the legal fight over conditions at the facility and the government’s lack of compliance with the court’s directives. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Individual campuses in the CSU and UC can create their own policies in addition to systemwide directives. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026 In a statement, ICE downplayed the significance of the memo, which said the new guidance was intended to replace and amend prior directives issued earlier this year, last year and in 2018. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026 How could one holy book give its readers such seemingly contradictory directives? — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 Some have done so, the prosecutor explained, by slow-walking directives of dubious merit, such as orders to investigate voter fraud by noncitizens—a phenomenon that Trump has falsely claimed is rampant. — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 This action follows previous directives this summer aimed at regulating data center expansion. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 Glass is no stranger to such responsibilities after serving as the top cop at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for the past four and half years while leading the agency’s directives and missions. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026 Conflicting directives To some extent, the Spanish government has been forced to act slowly. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for directives
  1. instructions
  2. decrees
  3. memorandums
  4. edicts
  5. rulings
  6. notices
  7. orders
  8. decisions
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
  • Sánchez's government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week when right-wing opposition parties voted down emergency decrees introduced by his government to address evictions and real estate speculation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Right-wing opposition parties joined forces to scuttle two emergency decrees introduced by Sánchez's government that included measures to reduce evictions and real estate speculation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of decrees
Noun
  • Decisions often get made in a room by people who trust one another, without committee memoranda or quarterly reporting obligations.
    — Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • As of Friday afternoon, neither daughter had filed their sentencing memorandums.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of memorandums
Noun
  • The film by and large follows the edicts of Iranian neorealism, with unobtrusive observations and a naturalistic soundscape.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Many believe Beijing perceived Tung as a loyalist who would obey the Communist leadership’s edicts.
    — Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of edicts
Noun
  • The evidence is in statements, rulings, orders and outright anger during hearings.
    — Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Get timely insight into the cases, rulings, and constitutional questions defining America’s legal landscape.
    — Washington Examiner, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of rulings
Noun
  • The state’s laws, which feature different requirements for condominiums and homeowners associations, establish detailed elections processes that include the timetables for the distribution of notices and other materials.
    — Gary M. Mars, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The staff member was unsure whether voters were notified directly but said notices were posted on the county's website, on social media, and at both locations.
    — Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of notices
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
  • Called Motor Decide, the tool is designed to help industries evaluate electric motor technologies and make informed decisions under uncertain market conditions.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The measure works largely by imposing deadlines on state agencies and courts to issue decisions quickly.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of decisions

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directive
directives
directly
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Cite this Entry

“Directives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/directives. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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