The director wanted the local Asahi reporter to go to the scene of the crime.
Source: tatoeba (18869)
Director
/dɪˈɹɛktɚ/
Synonyms for "director" (136 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Noun(6 words)
administratoragentauteurballyhoo manband leaderband majorbandmasterbankerbarkerbaronbig bossbig businessmanbig cheesebossbusiness leaderbusinessmancallboycaptaincaptain of industrycastellan
Strong matches (40)
chatelainechiefciceronecommandantcommanderconductorcostume designercostumercostumierdeputydrum majoremceeemployerenterpriserentrepreneurequestrian directorexecutiveexhibitorfinancierforeman
Related words (68)
kingpinleaderlittle businessmanmaestromagnatemakeup manman of commercemanagermastermaster of ceremoniesmcnumber oneofficerofficialoperatororchestra leaderoverseerpilotplayreaderpresident
Show 27 more words
principalproducerprompterrectorringmasterrulerscenewrightset designershowmanskipperspielerstage directorstage managersteersmansuperintendentsupervisorsymphonic conductortheater mantheatricianticket collectortop dogtop executivetycoonusherushererusherettevice-president
Noun(20 words)
leaderleadersmanaging directormarshalmusic directorofficeroverseerspostillionprincipalsquarterbacksrudderstanislavskysteerersuperintendentssupervisortheater directortheatre directortrusteetzarszeffirelli
Adjective(1 words)
ruling body members
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: manager, administrator, administrator, agent, artistic leader.
- Sentence evidence is available for director, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "director".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "director"
Keep "director" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "director" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "director", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "director" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesadministratorboard positioncommittee membercreative professiondecision makerfilm makerfilm producerfilmmakerfilmmaking rolegovernance rolejob titlemovie makermusicianofficial positionorganizational rolesupervisor
More specific
9 entriesanimated directordepartment directordocumentary directorexecutive directorfeature directorindependent directoroutside directorprogram directorproject director
Collocations
6 entriesboard of directorsdepartment directordirector of studiesexecutive directorfilm directorprogram director
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
The director cast me as the devil.
Source: tatoeba (20996)
In the film, the director makes Hamlet an active person.
Source: tatoeba (20997)
Guess what the managing director started off the meeting by saying. The first thing out of his mouth was an announcement of some major restructuring.
Source: tatoeba (22514)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "director"?
Closest matches include manager, administrator, administrator, agent, artistic leader.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "director"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.