English word
Direct
Definitions
verb
- to cause to turn, move, or point undeviatingly or to follow a straight course
- to write (a letter) to a personobsolete
- to show or point out the way for
- to request or enjoin (see enjoin sense 1) with authority
- to act as director of a show or musical ensemble
- to point out, prescribe, or determine a course or procedure
- to point, extend, or project in a specified line or course
- to regulate the activities or course of
- to carry out the organizing, energizing, and supervising of
- to train and lead performances of
- to dominate and determine the course of
- to impart orally
- to mark with the name and address of the intended recipient
- to adapt in expression so as to have particular applicability
Synonyms for direct
Closest evidence-backed alternatives.
- straight
Synonyms by context
(of a path) In a straight line and, as a corollary, the shortest and quickest
adjective
- linear
- quickest
- shortest
- unswerving
- continuous
- undeviating
- beeline
- even
- horizontal
(of a path) Having no stoppages or interruptions
adjective
- through
- unbroken
- uninterrupted
- contiguous
- nonstop
- non-stop
- straight through
- straight-through
To conduct or control the affairs of
verb
To give instructions
verb
- command
- order
- charge
- instruct
- bid
- enjoin
- tell
- adjure
- dictate
- call
Without an intermediary
adverb
- manually
- personally
- physically
- in person
- without an intermediary
- by oneself
- in the flesh
- in propria persona
- tête-à-tête
Antonyms for direct
- indirect
- equivocal
- circumlocutionary
Opposite of honest or frank in nature
- indirect
- circuitous
- roundabout
- ambiguous
- uncandid
- circumlocutionary
- equivocal
- evasive
- unforthcoming
- ambagious
(of a path) Opposite of in a straight line and, as a corollary, the shortest and quickest
- deviating
- divergent
- excursional
- excursionary
- excursive
- meandering
- anfractuous
(of a path) Opposite of having no stoppages or interruptions
- discontiguous
- noncontiguous
- intermittent
- discontinuous
- long
- periodic
- stop-and-go
- stop-go
Opposite of to conduct or control the affairs of
- mismanage
- misdirect
- misconduct
- mishandle
- misgovern
- botch
- misguide
- mislead
- misrule
- bungle
Opposite of to give instructions
- misinstruct
- misroute
- lead astray
- point in the wrong direction
- send off course
- send on a wild goose chase
Opposite of to point in a direction
- misaim
- confuse
- leave
- disorganize
- neglect
- unsettle
Opposite of directly or in a straight line
- indirectly
- circuitously
- obliquely
- diffusely
Opposite of without an intermediary
- intermediately
Phrases
- above board
- bona fide
- brief and to the point
- brutally honest
- by the book
- call a spade a spade
- calling a spade a spade
- calling spade a spade
- clear cut
- crystal clear
- cut loose
- deeply felt
- fair and square
- for real
- free and easy
- from the heart
- from the hip
- hanging out
- honest to god
- laid on the line