1
as in thing
something done by someone
judge people by their actions, not by their words
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2
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
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4
as in field
active fighting during the course of a war
the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France
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5
as in behavior
actions plural
the way or manner in which one conducts oneself
observing the actions of mice in various controlled settings helps scientists understand the effects of certain drugs
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the wilderness was tamed by men and women of action
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of action
Reddit users were just as quick to praise the pedestrian's actions, seeing the moment as a justified comeback rather than reckless behavior.
—
Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
But that entire apartment is a standing set, and most of the episode’s action (outside of a few brief street scenes) takes place inside.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Policymakers, businesses, organizations and other entities rely heavily on the vast trove of detailed data and long-running statistical trends to make investments and decisions — actions that ultimately affect people’s livelihoods.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
The court could also decide that no action is needed, and that Andrew should remain on death row.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for action 
Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
But that entire apartment is a standing set, and most of the episode’s action (outside of a few brief street scenes) takes place inside.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Policymakers, businesses, organizations and other entities rely heavily on the vast trove of detailed data and long-running statistical trends to make investments and decisions — actions that ultimately affect people’s livelihoods.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
The court could also decide that no action is needed, and that Andrew should remain on death row.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
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This was when things took a turn from par for the rap course to serious allegations with real potential consequences.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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And just when things are finally starting to look up, Jo receives a devastating cancer diagnosis.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Those are the sorts of major plot twists that can trip up even the smartest of puzzle box shows.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
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As for Dexter, he’s forced into a minor plot detour to draw blood, inadvertently giving up two pints himself (one because Clark has had an HIV exposure and needs to pass off someone else’s blood as his own, and the other because Masuka corners Dexter into donating).—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Maddox said a similar microcosm exists on the descendants’ side, with some supporting the foundation and others calling for class-action lawsuits.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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The administration currently faces approximately 70 lawsuits over various executive actions.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Travelers will once again be a Signature Event in 2025, meaning the field will consist of many of the sport’s top players with no cut and a $20 million total purse, with $3.6 million to the winner.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2025
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As for Rodriguez, many sports fans know him due to his prowess on the baseball field.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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But even if that’s true, fans are justified to call out a response that normalizes Trump’s current behavior as if this were any other president.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
7 Feb. 2025
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What if, the thinking goes, the prospect of CTE becomes an excuse for any violent or criminal behavior?—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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During the early days of its autonomous vehicle (AV) ambitions, Tesla did its testing in California, like most of the rest of the industry.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
Ars Technica,
10 Feb. 2025
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Get unlimited access to journalism that fuels your curiosity, passion and ambition.—
Forbes,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks criminal and non-criminal acts of hate against Jews, counted 8,873 antisemitic incidents in 2023, a 140% increase from the prior year, and the highest number on record since the ADL began tracking such data in 1979.—
Katie Futterman Las Vegas Review-Journal (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
15 Feb. 2025
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The house is a replica of the one in Solingen, Germany where a notorious act of arson in 1993 committed by a group of young far-right extremists left five Turkish migrant women and girls of the Genç family dead.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This story was updated at 11:55 a.m. after White surprise-released his new live EP.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
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Her story is a testament to perseverance and unconditional love, reminding us that nothing is impossible.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near action
Cite this Entry
“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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