1
as in incumbent
forcing one's compliance or participation by or as if by law
reporting signs of physical abuse is now an imperative duty for hospital and school personnel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in necessary
impossible to do without
proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in urgent
needing immediate attention
an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in instruction
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obligation
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 imperative
John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
The 6-foot-4 UCLA product has regressed athletically this season, but was an imperative, galvanizing force that helped take Boston over the championship hump last season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Matt Rivers, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2025
And how to navigate the moment without losing sight of the long-term imperatives that made these efforts necessary in the first place?
—London Business School, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Adjective
Getting more production from the outfielders is going to be imperative for this offense.
—John Romano, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
The 6-foot-4 UCLA product has regressed athletically this season, but was an imperative, galvanizing force that helped take Boston over the championship hump last season.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
The settlers often cite a deep religious imperative for their actions.
—Matt Rivers, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2025
And how to navigate the moment without losing sight of the long-term imperatives that made these efforts necessary in the first place?
—London Business School, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperative
Adjective
-
Listen to this article In the Aurora mayoral race, incumbent Richard Irvin and challenger John Laesch have both received notable endorsements ahead of the April 1 consolidated election.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Democratic primary challenges of incumbent governors are not unheard of in Massachusetts.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
These companies feel like necessary building blocks of modern existence.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
-
But the success of any of NASA’s plans depends on having the money and resources necessary to carry them out.—
Wendy Whitman Cobb,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
With congestion on the rise, the decline in per capita transit use suggests that fewer people currently rely on transit than pre-pandemic, which underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to attract riders.—
Ankit Mishra,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
In the nineteen-sixties and seventies, the Vietnam War was a matter of urgent concern in politics and scholarship alike.—
Nikil Saval,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Through the years, North talked about his experiences as a child actor, saying producers were most interested in obtaining a performance out of him while his schooling was neglected, despite California laws requiring three hours of instruction a day for child actors.—
Stacy Perman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Next, Henrique simply told Copilot to organize the notes—no need for specific instructions.—
Michael Muchmore,
PC Magazine,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Judge Kevin Brazile refused to grant CBS an injunction, finding that Sony is likely to prevail on its claim that CBS has failed to live up to its contractual obligations.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
In return, the government has a clear obligation to respect and protect the personal and private nature of that information.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Friends of Bear Creek Stables are tasked with asking for quotes for required coverage before making that decision.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
2 Apr. 2025
-
According to the death review investigation, the facility conducted the required well-being checks on the resident every 30 minutes from 9:53 p.m. Oct. 18 through 2:13 a.m. Oct. 19.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The Trump administration’s decision to cut USAID funding has deprived the country of essential funding and created more uncertainty for the CHW program and other initiatives.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Since 2014, the ACL Hall of Fame has honored artists who have played an essential role in the series’ half-century as a premier supporter of top-shelf music.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
No one living close to the plant, or anyone working inside it, had died from acute radiation syndrome.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Researchers from Dartmouth College built the bot as a way of taking a new approach to a longstanding problem: The U.S. continues to grapple with an acute shortage of mental health providers.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperative. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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