direct 1 of 3

1
as in to channel
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway the aqueduct directs the water into an artificial lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
3
as in to request
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the caretaker directed that all of the windows be closed before we left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in to aim
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal we quickly directed our attention toward the noise coming from the rear

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

6
as in to steer
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front the guide directed the tour through the museum with commendable efficiency and expertise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

direct

2 of 3

adjective

1
as in primary
done or working without something else coming in between a zoologist whose works are based entirely on her direct observation of animals in the wild the virus was the direct cause of the disease

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2
3
4

direct

3 of 3

adverb

as in straight
in a direct line or course flew direct to the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb direct contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of direct are bid, charge, command, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls
the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When would bid be a good substitute for direct?

The synonyms bid and direct are sometimes interchangeable, but bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another, in the sense of direct?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of direct?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

When might enjoin be a better fit than direct?

While the synonyms enjoin and direct are close in meaning, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When is it sensible to use order instead of direct?

While in some cases nearly identical to direct, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 direct
Verb
Eagle Hills Elementary did not answer the Statesman’s questions, directing inquiries to the school district. Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 13 Aug. 2025 After two Evil Dead movies and three Spider-Man films, Raimi returned to horror by co-writing and directing Drag Me to Hell (2009). Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Trump’s order prohibits third-party collectives from offering direct pay-for-play deals, insists NIL must be tied to real brand value, and mandates that colleges above certain revenue thresholds maintain or expand funding and participation in women’s and Olympic sports. Aaron S. Marks, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2025 Donyell Malen has been direct and emphatic in his finishing. Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Adverb
While being sold direct into police agencies, Corellium will continue to be developed and sold to private customers like banking giant Santander and defense contractor L3Harris. Thomas Brewster, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 Right after Mars went direct on February 23, Venus, ruler of all things beautiful, started its own backward dance from March 1 to April 12, making those dates also cosmically ill-advisable for life-changing chops. Sophie Saint Thomas, Allure, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for direct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for direct
Verb
  • The film notably channels both the philosophical ideas and action tropes of the original Star Trek series.
    Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2025
  • Others are channeling funds to biodiversity restoration or coral reef protection, sometimes paired with innovative coverage that keeps ecosystems functioning after a shock.
    Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Attorneys for Bedrock Healthcare argue the court's decision to order the nursing homes into receivership was hasty and unnecessary.
    Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • After spending months cutting funds to researchers, many grants-management specialists then had to undo that work in a matter of days, after a federal judge ordered the agency to immediately reinstate hundreds of grants.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • After seeing smoke exiting the front of the truck, Wright requested response service from the area's fire department and Emergency Management Services (EMS), then ran to the truck and pulled the injured driver out through a window.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The front desk clerk twice contacted DCS to report apparent signs of abuse and request a welfare check, but the agency did not respond, according to the claim.
    Mary Jo Pitzl, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The official supervising Ghana’s effort to build its first nuclear plant admitted to Semafor last year that the country would miss its own 2030 deadline.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The focus is no longer on doing the process, but on designing, supervising and improving it.
    Dutt Kalluri, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Since then, Cincinnati police have launched a roving task force, a drone program, more visible patrols and several other programs aimed at increasing safety in the neighborhoods where residents come to work and visit for entertainment: Downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
    Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 13 Aug. 2025
  • The initiative aims to support local musicians who often face challenges with affordable parking.
    Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Any inappropriate questions are immediately steered back to mixology.
    John Kell, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Say a driver is steering their new iX M70 along an alpine roadway on a brisk October morning.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • France is, however, the primary importer of Mauritian nutmeg today.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 16 Aug. 2025
  • This time the logo appeared as part of a broader Leidos sponsorship on Bubba Wallace’s Toyota, giving the Space Force visibility within a partnership rather than as the primary branding.
    Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Counter to her brother, Maxine is the outspoken, happy-go-lucky, popular girl who masks her loneliness and sorrow.
    Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The Democratic Party is also home to outspoken critics of Israel and much of the Jewish community, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Bernie Sanders, and others.
    Nathan Diament, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Direct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direct. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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