1
as in instructions
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligations
something one must do because of prior agreement
although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imperatives
Indeed, the Framers recognized these imperatives, along with the tension inherent between congressional authority and the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief.
—
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
The situation has exposed a fault line between two competing imperatives.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Unlike many slow-moving urban mammoths, this could be a model for how to integrate local desires with capitalist imperatives to deliver your friendly neighborhood megaproject.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026
For firms seeking success in today’s high-pressure market, there are a few core imperatives.
—Abdulla Belhoul, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Today, nuclear is firmly back on the global energy agenda, driven by the dual imperatives of energy security and climate goals.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This past year also was elevated by the success that the league’s TV partners had in harnessing the lure of live game coverage to drive larger corporate imperatives — namely, building up the streaming platforms that represent the future for the parent companies of NBC, CBS, ESPN/ABC and Fox.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Who knows the reasons for this choice—band dynamics are a psychedelic kaleidoscope of competing imperatives—but whatever the case, by 2003’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Murdoch had been largely restored to creative primacy, on both that record and The Life Pursuit.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
The meeting comes as the president reignites his push to take control of Greenland, citing national security imperatives.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026
The situation has exposed a fault line between two competing imperatives.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 3 Mar. 2026
Unlike many slow-moving urban mammoths, this could be a model for how to integrate local desires with capitalist imperatives to deliver your friendly neighborhood megaproject.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 10 Feb. 2026
For firms seeking success in today’s high-pressure market, there are a few core imperatives.
—Abdulla Belhoul, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
Today, nuclear is firmly back on the global energy agenda, driven by the dual imperatives of energy security and climate goals.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This past year also was elevated by the success that the league’s TV partners had in harnessing the lure of live game coverage to drive larger corporate imperatives — namely, building up the streaming platforms that represent the future for the parent companies of NBC, CBS, ESPN/ABC and Fox.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Who knows the reasons for this choice—band dynamics are a psychedelic kaleidoscope of competing imperatives—but whatever the case, by 2003’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress, Murdoch had been largely restored to creative primacy, on both that record and The Life Pursuit.
—Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
The meeting comes as the president reignites his push to take control of Greenland, citing national security imperatives.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperatives
Noun
-
Logic suggested that when these instructions were followed, the parasite should produce similar amounts of each protein.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Repeat 3 to 5 times, or as many times as the instructions recommend.—
Jesse Raub,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The 2012 nationalization of Argentina's largest energy company, further damaged Argentina’s international standing by reinforcing its history of abandoning its global financial obligations.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Netflix and Disney+ consider investment obligations imposed by Wallonia-Brussels as disproportionate, given the size of the region.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Covid-19 bred doubt about government edicts and skepticism about science, provoking an existential battle for truth.—
Richard Edelman,
Time,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Trump edicts weigh on stocks this week Geopolitical risks have weighed on investor sentiment this week.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Along with that, McGinley spoke about the reigning champion's responsibilities during the lead-up to The Masters, which can disrupt one's focus on the actual event.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Keeping anyone in the dark can quickly cause problems, so make sure everyone understands their responsibilities.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Information flows upward through layers of reporting, and directives flow downward through chains of command.—
Lawrence Rosenberg,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
What the report found In response to the allegations in Minnesota, Abbott issued six directives to the state workforce and human services commissions to identify if Texas had a problem with improper payments, specifically with fraud.—
Jess Huff,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wellness screenings offer a non-invasive analysis of each guest’s key biomarkers to understand individual needs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
February 19 – March 20 Small choices ought to honor your current needs.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My standard orders are the chocolate babka (the best in the city); the Jerusalem bagel stick that’s filled with za’atar and feta; and a bag full of rugelach to-go.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
-
More than a quarter of American men joined orders like the Knights of Pythias, and gyms grew in popularity.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the meantime, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are still assisting at airports, with duties like checking identification and helping manage lines.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Mills was absent from Monday’s broadcast, with Gary Davies assuming broadcasting duties.—
Thomas Smith,
Billboard,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imperatives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperatives. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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