as in ambition
readiness to engage in daring or difficult activity
the sentry showed remarkable initiative and uncommon bravery in foiling the terrorist attack
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 initiative
In 2020, the pair launched The Earthshot Prize – an ambitious environmental initiative that seeks to offer green solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including ocean protection.
—
Olivia Kemp, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
At first, these initiatives to combat discrimination and increase the persistently low percentage of female, Black and Hispanic executives seemed to get results.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Somebody should sponsor an initiative banning increases in public employee compensation unless the state budget is balanced.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
The latter is a reference to a global initiative launched by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003 that is credited to date with saving 26 million lives of people living with AIDS and and allowing nearly 8 million babies to be born with HIV infection.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for initiative
Olivia Kemp, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
At first, these initiatives to combat discrimination and increase the persistently low percentage of female, Black and Hispanic executives seemed to get results.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Somebody should sponsor an initiative banning increases in public employee compensation unless the state budget is balanced.
—John Seiler, Oc Register, 6 June 2025
The latter is a reference to a global initiative launched by Republican President George W. Bush in 2003 that is credited to date with saving 26 million lives of people living with AIDS and and allowing nearly 8 million babies to be born with HIV infection.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for initiative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiative
Noun
-
The extent of the advance is unclear, as are Moscow’s ambitions for the assault.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
-
How the potential fallout between two of the world's most powerful men could affect U.S. spaceflight ambitions remains to be seen.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Note that bond funds have less predictable income patterns than individual bonds due to the fund's diversification, strategy and trading actions.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
-
Many of the pro-climate policies enacted, particularly during the Biden era, deliver little in the way of climate benefits (or any benefit for that matter) while making a mockery of the real economic concerns businesses and consumers have about climate action.—
Ashley Nunes,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
The video is a critical piece of evidence for the prosecution, which has alleged Combs ran a criminal enterprise over two decades that committed such crimes as bribery and obstruction of justice — which relate to the aftermath of the assault at the Intercontinental.—
Janelle Griffith,
People.com,
3 June 2025
-
What roles will humans play in the autonomous enterprise of the future?—
Adam Bujak,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Initiative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiative. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share