DIRECTION Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

direction

noun

də-ˈrek-shən

Definition of direction

as in instruction

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned we were given very specific directions for the first part of the exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in management

the act or activity of looking after and making decisions about something working under the close direction of the engineering supervisor

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in compass

a guiding or motivating purpose or principle a life that seemed to lack any direction other than the mindless pursuit of empty pleasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in trend

a prevailing or general movement or inclination some older people worry about the overall direction that political discourse has taken lately

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 direction Fashion has actually been nudging us in this direction for a while. — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 29 Aug. 2026 The price trend may be reversing direction more quickly than the YoY version of the CPI can detect it. — George Calhoun, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Apply half of the seed in one direction (east to west) and the other half in the opposite direction (north to south). — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026 The behavior and the awareness are moving in opposite directions. — Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for direction

Recent Examples of Synonyms for direction

Noun

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
John’s hacking skills prove useful, as does the T-800’s extensive firepower—although per John’s instructions, there are zero human fatalities.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

Another win was with a European car maker that replaced its next-gen Endpoint Detection and Response, legacy SIEM, and legacy vulnerability management product with an eight-figure net-new Falcon Flex.

— Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Florida is launching a new initiative to encourage more students to choose careers in emergency management, which the governor announced a week after a shakeup in leadership at the state’s Department of Emergency Management.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of management

Noun

Department store Macy’s highlights sporty prep, statement sneakers, denim, and activewear as key trends for the 2026 back-to-school period, chiming with analyst predictions.

— Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Frans Op den Kamp is hoping that trend continues, as his collection of more than 3,200 Johnnie Walker bottles and pieces of memorabilia, the largest collection to date at auction, opens for bidding to the public next month.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of trend

Noun

If the teams refuse to enroll the players who benefit from the TRO, those players could petition Hoffman to clarify that his order also blocks the SEC from punishing schools.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The draft order was picked at random, but the league’s players didn’t pick a number out of a hat or see who could hit a golf shot closest to a hole.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

As part of this, ACFM is partnering with global marketing and advertising agency Innocean to co-host the ‘Cinema by Brand 2026’ competition, with the Producers Guild of Korea (PGK) responsible for the selection process and production supervision.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
She was sentenced to eight years in prison and three years of extended supervision.

— Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of supervision

Noun

Of the recent tide of Gen-Z offerings, this is the best of the bunch, with its mix of absurdist humor and heartfelt sentiment.

— Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Ministers believe this will reflect changing viewing habits, as well as combat the tide of misinformation and disinformation on online services.

— Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of tide

Noun

The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Imagine if an edict came down from above tomorrow that says college athletes must be treated as full-time W-2 employees.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of edict

Browse Nearby Words

directing

direction

directionless

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/direction. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of direction

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

conscientious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes