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as in to inaugurate
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies initiated her as Surgeon General before an army of reporters and photographers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word initiate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of initiate are begin, commence, inaugurate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

How does the word begin relate to other synonyms for initiate?

Begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for initiate?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When would inaugurate be a good substitute for initiate?

The meanings of inaugurate and initiate largely overlap; however, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to initiate?

While the synonyms start and initiate are close in meaning, start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of initiate?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

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 initiate Related Articles Electra is returning to the beauty space in collaboration with Rudy Mawer of Mawer Capital, who initiated the endeavor by reaching out to her team. Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 21 May 2025 Suspect identified in deadly blast outside Palm Springs fertility clinic, per FBI Daniel, from Pinole, California, was a computer science major and initiated member of the fraternity. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 20 May 2025 At the time of the escape, no sheriff's deputy was assigned to the area where the inmates initiated the jailbreak, and a civilian monitor stationed in the area had stepped away for food. Alex Sundby may 20, CBS News, 20 May 2025 In this context, Comité Colbert initiated the creation of a European association of national luxury associations in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Sweden. Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for initiate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiate
Verb
  • Along with Cepeda, Jenkins established the boutique production company Resurgent Pictures in 2022.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 24 May 2025
  • Urban Exploration Hartford, the state capital, boasts a growing LGBTQ+ scene centered around Chez Est, a restaurant and cabaret established in 1983 and believed to be the first entertainment venue of its kind in the state’s history.
    Joshua Alston, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • Learners are introduced to core topics like threat modeling, compliance, and business continuity planning, along with technical concepts such as network protocols, cryptography, and secure system architecture.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
  • At his father’s funeral in 1957, he was introduced to Francois Truffaut, and the French legend hired him to write and direct one of the five segments in Love at Twenty (1962).
    Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • Dorsey, a lawyer in the executive branch since the Obama administration, was named acting general counsel for the White House’s Office of Administration in January, when Trump was inaugurated.
    Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 22 May 2025
  • The policy change was tied to an executive order signed on Jan. 20, when Trump was inaugurated, that called for enhanced screening and vetting across federal agencies, as well as a presidential action designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
    Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Denver Post, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Today's results mirrored those of Starship Flight 7, which launched on Jan. 16.
    Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 May 2025
  • To modern eyes, the show, which launched in 1998, is a time capsule.
    Melissa Locker, Time, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • In 2022, she was ranked among the top five Nurse Influencers on LinkedIn by industry sources and was also inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing for her efforts to combat disruptive behaviors in healthcare.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 28 May 2025
  • Avnet, who in 2017 was named Manager of the Year by Pollstar and inducted into the Personal Managers Hall of Fame, never signed a contract with any of his artists.
    Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Ronaldo’s post on social media on Monday, when Al Nassr played the final match of their season, then created more conversation.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • Defense created easy offense and in the halfcourt, the ball skipped around.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • So over time, the use of electric fencing, and the expertise needed to install and maintain it, has spread through her community and the surrounding region, with 535 electric fences installed to date.
    Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025
  • However, if the compost is soggy and open to the air, add a lid to the bin to keep the rain out, or install a tarp or other covering over your compost in wet weather.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The garden features pioneering plants that thrive in harsh environments, representing the potential for growth and hope for the future.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Citizen launched the first titanium timepiece 55 years ago and pioneered battery-free technology nearly 50 years ago.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 16 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Initiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiate. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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