Imperative — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /im-ˈper-ə-tiv/ im·per·a·tive

Meaning & Definition of Imperative

Imperative (adjective)

  1. not to be avoided or evaded, necessary
  2. expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation
  3. having power to restrain, control, and direct

Imperative (noun)

  1. something that is imperative
  2. command, order
  3. rule, guide

Imperative (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: compulsory, forced, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required
    related: all-important, essential, indispensable, needed, requisite, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent, demanded, enforced, coercive
    opposite: elective, optional, voluntary
    near: chosen, discretionary, dispensable, unnecessary, unneeded, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, nonessential, unimportant

  2. impossible to do without

    "proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment"

    similar: all-important, critical, essential, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessary, necessitous, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital, of the essence
    related: prerequisite, compulsory, mandatory, nonelective, obligatory, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, basic, central, fundamental, key, organic, insistent, persistent, pressing, urgent
    opposite: dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded
    near: undesired, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus

  3. needing immediate attention

    "an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country"

    similar: acute, burning, clamant, compelling, critical, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperious, importunate, instant, necessitous, pressing, urgent
    related: demanding, extreme, immediate, insistent, intense, overriding, crucial, desperate, grave, life-and-death, serious, severe, vital, dangerous, explosive, hazardous, perilous, precarious, unstable
    opposite: noncritical, nonurgent
    near: incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant, nonthreatening, safe, stable

Imperative (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: behest, charge, command, commandment, decree, dictate, direction, directive, do, edict, injunction, instruction, order, word
    related: demand, requirement, mandate, countermand, counterorder, law, precept, prescript, prescription, rule, ordinance, regulation, statute
    near: appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging, proposal, recommendation, suggestion

  2. 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"

    similar: burden, charge, commitment, devoir, do (archaic), duty, incumbency, need, obligation, office, responsibility
    related: oath, pledge, promise, troth, vow, word, arrangement, prearrangement, setup, compact, contract, covenant, pact, trust, debt, payment, tribute, compulsion, constraint, restraint, must, requirement, coercion, duress, force, appointment, engagement, reservation, onus
    near: grace, postponement, stay, discharge, ease, exemption, release, relief, waiver, loophole, alternative, choice, option, pick, preference, selection

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Imperative

The most common words with a similar meaning to Imperative:

Archaic: do
compulsory, forced, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory, required, all-important, critical, essential, indispensable, integral, must-have, necessitous, needed, needful, requisite, vital, acute, burning, clamant, compelling, crying, dire, emergent, exigent, imperious, importunate, instant, pressing, urgent, of the essence, behest, charge, command, commandment, decree

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Imperative

Words with the opposite meaning of Imperative:

elective, optional, voluntary, dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential, unessential, unnecessary, unneeded, noncritical, nonurgent

Related Words for Imperative

insistent, persistent, demanded, enforced, coercive, prerequisite, consequential, crucial, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, significant, substantial, weighty, basic, central, fundamental, key, organic, demanding, extreme, immediate, intense, overriding, desperate, grave, life-and-death, serious

Near Antonyms of Imperative

chosen, discretionary, unwanted, inconsequential, insignificant, unimportant, undesired, excess, external, extra, extraneous, superfluous, surplus, incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, nonthreatening, safe, stable, appeal, entreaty, petition, plea, urging, proposal, recommendation, suggestion, grace

Word Forms of Imperative

Derived words: imperatively (adverb), imperativeness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Imperative

Middle English imperatyf, borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperātus, past participle of imperāre "to give orders, command" + -īvus -ive emperor

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Imperative

categorical imperative, the imperative

Frequently Asked Questions about Imperative

What does "Imperative" mean?

"Imperative" means not to be avoided or evaded, necessary. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: not to be avoided or evaded, necessary. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Imperative"?

Other words for "Imperative" include compulsory, forced, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective and obligatory. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Imperative" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Imperative"?

There are 135 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Imperative". Common alternatives include compulsory, forced, incumbent, involuntary, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, peremptory and required.

What is the opposite of "Imperative"?

Antonyms of "Imperative" include elective, optional, voluntary, dispensable, inessential, needless, nonessential and unessential. Near antonyms include chosen, discretionary, unwanted and inconsequential.

How do you use "Imperative" in a sentence?

Examples of "Imperative" in a sentence: "reporting signs of physical abuse is now an imperative duty for hospital and school personnel"; "proper equipment is imperative for the success of this chemical experiment"; "an imperative need for medical supplies in the earthquake-ravaged country".

Is "Imperative" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Imperative" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Imperative"?

"Imperative" is pronounced /im-ˈper-ə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as im·per·a·tive.

What is the origin of the word "Imperative"?

"Imperative" comes from Middle English imperatyf, borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, from Latin imperātus, past participle of imperāre "to give orders, command" + -īvus -ive emperor. First known use: 15th century.