V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary
imperative
adjective
Definition: 1. absolutely necessary or unavoidable; 2. authoritarian or commanding; 3. being a grammatical command word
Synonyms: essential, important, necessary, urgent, crucial, critical, commanding, dominant, authoritarian
Antonyms: optional, conciliatory
Tips: Imperative comes from the Latin word imperare, which means "to command." Think about a soldier who is commanded to do something--he must do what he is commanded to do; it is imperative. Use imperative as a more sophisticated way of saying "crucial" or "urgent." The word imperative can be used as a noun as well as an adjective, as in, "We have a moral imperative to act, so it is imperative that we do something now!"
Usage Examples:
It is imperative that you take this medication at the same time every day, or it will not work properly. (necessary, essential)
The professor taught with an imperative air that kept his students engaged, if slightly uncomfortable. (commanding, authoritarian)
It is imperative that we meet this deadline so the client knows we are dependable. (important, necessary)
Great customer service is just as imperative today as when we founded this company. (essential)
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