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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of imperative
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Water, Water, Water Watering, especially in the middle of summer, is imperative every day.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025
Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Looking ahead, internationalization is a strategic imperative for companies across the board.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Adjective
Baseball caps are fine, check shirts are fine, salmon pink trousers combined with a sky blue shirt are fine, but above all else, a tie is absolutely imperative.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Water, Water, Water Watering, especially in the middle of summer, is imperative every day.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 July 2025
Noun
Unlike other industries where product launches follow predictable cycles, fashion operates on seasonal imperatives where timing determines success or failure.
—Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 14 July 2025
Looking ahead, internationalization is a strategic imperative for companies across the board.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for imperative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imperative
Adjective
-
Councilwoman Amelia Stinson-Wesley is risking her seat to take on incumbent Mayor David Phillips for his position.—
Nicholas Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
19 July 2025
-
Mamdani has many specific attributes and won in a very unusual kind of primary where an incumbent mayor had left the party and the front-runner was dragging heavy baggage.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
18 July 2025
Adjective
-
The data needs to be accessible and running in sync across necessary components within the system, not operating in a silo.—
Lori Schafer,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The Trump administration argued the deployment was necessary to deal with chaotic protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests.—
July 15,
CBS News,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
For many who’ve been on the ground preventing violence in their communities, the debate at the Capitol feels urgent.—
Andrea May Sahouri,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
-
Sutton added that with higher participation in an opt-in system, emergency managers could use that channel for less urgent alerts and conserve IPAWS alerts for the most high-risk situations.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Opt-in systems are most effective when paired with instruction about disasters and how to respond to warnings, Sellnow said, making education a crucial responsibility of local governments.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
Ripa's follow-up instructions, however, sent him off the deep end.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
The company emphasized that under both legal and contractual obligations, the company should have been informed of the arrangements.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The company has racked up nearly $30 million in fines for failing to meet staffing guidelines and other contractual obligations, but reform advocates argue the fines are not a clear incentive for CoreCivic to improve its facilities.—
Melissa Brown,
The Tennessean,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
The 31-year-old is a true holding midfielder, offering assurance in playing out from the back and moving the ball through the thirds at the required tempo.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
But he still has not been confirmed by the Senate, a required step to take on the role permanently (typically, U.S. attorneys serve through a president's time in office).—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
The truth is, digestion is an essential part of the wellness and health conversation.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
15 July 2025
-
Same goes for date syrup, which contains essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, and iron as well as antioxidants and fiber.—
Jeanne Ballion,
Vogue,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
In Gaza City, 16% of 15,000 children were found to suffer from acute malnutrition, quadruple the percentage from February.—
Scott Neuman,
NPR,
25 July 2025
-
This is sometimes called an acute dystonia reaction.—
Ruth Jessen Hickman,
Health,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Imperative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imperative. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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