Imperatives — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun

Meaning & Definition of Imperatives

Imperatives (noun)

  1. something that is imperative
  2. command, order
  3. rule, guide
  4. a moral obligation or command that is unconditionally and universally binding

Imperatives (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: behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directions, directives, dos, edicts, injunctions, instructions, orders, words
    related: demands, requirements, mandates, countermands, counterorders, laws, precepts, prescriptions, prescripts, rules, ordinances, regulations, statutes
    near: appeals, entreaties, petitions, pleas, urgings, proposals, recommendations, suggestions

  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: burdens, charges, commitments, devoirs, dos (archaic), duties, incumbencies, needs, obligations, offices, responsibilities
    related: oaths, pledges, promises, troths, vows, words, arrangements, prearrangements, setups, compacts, contracts, covenants, pacts, trusts, debts, payments, tributes, compulsions, constraints, restraints, musts, requirements, coercions, duresses, forces, appointments, engagements, reservations, onuses
    near: graces, postponements, stays, discharges, eases, exemptions, releases, reliefs, waivers, loopholes, alternatives, choices, options, picks, preferences, selections

Related Entry: Imperative (noun)

Imperative is a different word from Imperatives. The synonyms below are for imperative, not for imperatives.

  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 Imperatives

The most common words with a similar meaning to Imperatives:

Archaic: dos
behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directions, directives, edicts, injunctions, instructions, orders, words, burdens, commitments, devoirs, duties, incumbencies, needs, obligations, offices, responsibilities

Related Words for Imperatives

demands, requirements, mandates, countermands, counterorders, laws, precepts, prescriptions, prescripts, rules, ordinances, regulations, statutes, oaths, pledges, promises, troths, vows, arrangements, prearrangements, setups, compacts, contracts, covenants, pacts, trusts, debts, payments, tributes, compulsions

Near Antonyms of Imperatives

appeals, entreaties, petitions, pleas, urgings, proposals, recommendations, suggestions, graces, postponements, stays, discharges, eases, exemptions, releases, reliefs, waivers, loopholes, alternatives, choices, options, picks, preferences, selections

Origin & Etymology of Imperatives

borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, noun derivative of imperātīvus imperative:1

First known use: 1530

Frequently Asked Questions about Imperatives

What does "Imperatives" mean?

"Imperatives" means something that is imperative. As a noun, it is defined as: something that is imperative. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Imperatives"?

Other words for "Imperatives" include behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directions and directives. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Imperatives" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Imperatives"?

There are 63 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Imperatives". Common alternatives include behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees, dictates, directions, directives, dos and edicts.

How do you use "Imperatives" in a sentence?

Examples of "Imperatives" in a sentence: "a secretary of defense who was fond of issuing harshly worded imperatives"; "although he had little taste for the social imperatives that come with being governor, he put on a brave face".

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

"Imperatives" is a noun.

What is the origin of the word "Imperatives"?

"Imperatives" comes from borrowed from Late Latin imperātīvus, noun derivative of imperātīvus imperative:1. First known use: 1530.

What is another word for "Imperatives" meaning "a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned"?

When "Imperatives" (noun) means a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned, synonyms include behests, charges, commandments, commands, decrees and dictates.

What is another word for "Imperatives" meaning "something one must do because of prior agreement"?

When "Imperatives" (noun) means something one must do because of prior agreement, synonyms include burdens, charges, commitments, devoirs, dos and duties.