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as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the mystery writer displays a sure hand in managing the novel's complicated but never incoherent action

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 action The Yellowjackets face the consequences of their actions. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025 Guests can also see animal care in action at Rafiki’s Planet Watch. Eve Chen, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 But couched within President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement about reciprocal duties was another trade action that has the potential to upend global e-commerce and drastically alter the way products enter the U.S. market. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 8 Apr. 2025 That assumes good intentions, transparent action, and a willingness to make tough decisions. Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • Few things can complicate the otherwise straightforward matter of death quite like family and the possibility of inheritance.
    Ashley Case, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Jake Paul has nothing but good things to say about his Disney days.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The structure will be the latest addition to Veteran’s Memorial Park, a half-acre triangular plot across the street from the Arlington Heights United Methodist Church.
    Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
  • This post contains details from Margaret Atwood’s novel The Testaments, which may allude to certain plot points in the final season of The Handmaid‘s Tale.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Boasberg initially tossed out the lawsuit but gave the FTC a chance to amend its complaint.
    Ashley Oliver, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The state disagreed and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, but a federal judge in Orlando rejected the state’s motion in February so the lawsuit is proceeding.
    Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Grimes scored in bunches against the Knicks on Tuesday and finished with a team-high 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting from the field, 1-of-6 shooting from the three-point line and 9-of-10 from the foul line.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But Monday night in the 120-94 victory that extended the Heat’s winning streak to a season-best five in a row, the second-year forward out of UCLA was 6 of 9 from the field and 2 of 2 on 3-pointers.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • From an evolutionary perspective, large groups living together in groups typically arose for the mutual benefit of all the members of the group, relying on behaviors such as working together to find food or detect predators (i.e.; ref).
    GrrlScientist, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • And that led to a lot of aggression and bad behavior at the beginning of the album.
    Raven Brunner, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Vance's mission here, push President Trump's expansionist ambition to get U.S. control of Greenland, which is a part of Denmark, a U.S. ally.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Newsom is one in a deep bench of Democratic governors stoking 2028 speculation, while Ocasio-Cortez herself is thought to have ambitions for higher office.
    David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 29 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Sudden Bitcoin Price ‘Crisis Scenario’ Fear Just behind Cyrus is another rock act with an incredibly bold title.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Writing it, one senses, was a high-wire act over an abyss of pain, agitation, uncertainty, and the dread of being ignored or misunderstood.
    Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • His first-person stories include supersonic rides in seven separate aircraft pulling up to 9 Gs and flying to 84,000 feet; driving a Bugatti at 253 mph and Indy cars at 200 mph; expeditions to the North and South Poles; summiting the Matterhorn and 23,000-ft.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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