How to Use the imperative in a Sentence

the imperative

noun
Definition of the imperativenext
  • Passover is about the imperative to remember, both the good and the bad.
    — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2023
  • The first tenet is the imperative of a strong, stable Russian state.
    — Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2023
  • Suddenly, the mood shifts to the imperative, and with it, the beloved has — perhaps — appeared.
    — Bhanu Kapil Anne Boyer, New York Times, 4 May 2023
  • Which brings us back to the imperative mentioned above.
    — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024
  • So the imperative will be not only to beat the Portuguese but also to make sure that the margin is sufficient to match whatever the Dutch do against the Vietnamese.
    — John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2023
  • Instead, the imperative of the business and political classes is to move on.
    — TIME, 26 Oct. 2023
  • With the Dodgers, and with the imperative to win, Gray likely would have been optioned repeatedly, shuttled between the major and minor leagues.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2023
  • The Americans can’t be blamed for celebrating survival, but the imperative now is clear.
    — John Powers, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023
  • But even small tweaks mark an act of resistance, one rooted in a sense of duty and faith in a near-term victory over Russia by Ukrainian forces, as much as the imperative of making ends meet.
    — Dominique Soguel, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Mar. 2023
  • The challenge for Michelin seems to be balancing the high standards that give the brand its power with the imperative to expand into markets that may not have many restaurants that meet those standards.
    — Julia Moskin, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023
  • Shaya and Fenves talk with correspondent Lee Cowan about how food can offer solace in the midst of suffering, and provide the imperative to remember.
    — David Morgan, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2023
  • Trade needs to support the imperative of climate change action yet at the same time resist unhelpful protectionism.
    — Bybørge Brende, Fortune, 15 Jan. 2024
  • But the imperative on both sides to avoid nuclear escalation would not only create parameters for the objectives sought and the means employed to achieve them.
    — Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
  • All of this adds up to Hutchinson’s decision to spend time in states that do not have early nominating contests, with the imperative of staying on the debate stage competing with the strategy of going slow and steady in early states.
    — Emma Barnett, NBC News, 6 Sep. 2023
  • Through their stories, we are reminded of the power of perseverance, the importance of representation, and the imperative of ensuring that every voice is heard in the halls of power.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 28 Mar. 2024
  • American companies have found the nearest thing to a safe space by focusing on the need for humanitarian relief across the entire region and on the imperative to stamp out antisemitism.
    — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023
  • With health care costs rising and cultural influences promoting sedentary lifestyles, the imperative to act has never been more urgent.
    — Liz Clark, Fortune, 7 May 2024
  • The cellphone supply chain underscores both the difficulties and the imperative of making the United States less dependent on China, where most smartphones are packaged and assembled.
    — Ro Khanna, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2022
  • But liking or disliking Trump has nothing whatever to do with the imperative of highlighting the clear and present danger the unhinged ex-president continues to pose to our country and our system of democracy.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
  • And doing so opens up the opportunity (or perhaps the imperative) to generalize.
    — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2023
  • No less important is the imperative to try to pry open the possibility for conflict resolution down the road, a path currently being closed by Israel’s increasing, de facto annexation of the West Bank.
    — Natan Sachs, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2023
  • The liberalism of the 1960s that bequeathed us the current woke democracy brought with it in turn a veritable Third Bill of Rights, proclaiming the imperative justice of creating our own lifestyles, cultures, morality, and identity.
    — Charles Kesler, National Review, 20 June 2024
  • In previous military campaigns, the imperative to carry out more strikes at a greater pace has led the IDF to grant lower-ranking officers the power to approve strikes that may result in significant collateral damage to civilians.
    — Avner Gvaryahu, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2024
  • As a former investment banker, Moore brings a keen understanding of budgetary intricacies and the imperative to align government spending with tangible outcomes.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2024
  • Depicting weariness, fear and mental fatigue over two acts and two hours is no easy feat, especially given the imperative to maintain dramatic tension, and this show, produced in a very intimate theater, really finds that balance.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2023
  • These insights underscore the imperative of adaptability and strategic confidence to set the future course of content production and distribution.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Folt emphasized the imperative of addressing the nation’s political divide with students.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2024
  • That raises the question of whether the imperative that Apretude recipients attend medical appointments every two months, rather than every three months for Truvada or Descovy, will substantially alienate at-risk people.
    — Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 22 Aug. 2023
  • Political and financial will is key The report also highlights the imperative role of financing adaptation and mitigation measures.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 20 Mar. 2023
  • Some policymakers may resist the imperative to prioritize rural issues and tackle complex problems in the countryside.
    — Marie Hyland, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the imperative.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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