"I'll do my best" often means "I'll initiate nothing".
Source: tatoeba (1361748)
Initiate
/ɪˈnɪʃ.i.eɪt/
Synonyms for "initiate" (336 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (68)
Noun(18 words)
beginnernoviceactioningactivatingadmitapplication processapprenticeart trendautonomously ledbeginbeginningbirth of modern sciencebloodsbootstrap projectcause chaincause state changecharge aheadcommence
abecedarianacceptaccomplishedaccomplished factactivateactuateadmitaffiliatealphabetarianapprenticearticled clerkassociateat concert pitchattemptbeginbeginnerbelongerbootbreakbreak ground
Show 18 more words
break the icebring upbroachbrothercard carriercard-carriercard-carrying membercardholdercareercatechumencharter memberchristenclubberclubmanclubwomancoachcoachedcommence
Verb(11 words)
Adjective(1 words)
active term
Strong matches (100)
Noun(19 words)
Verb(23 words)
commencedcommencescommencingdebutingembarkembarkedembarksestablish a programestablish a traditionhazedinauguratedinauguratesinducedinducesinductinductedinductsinitializeinstigate reforminstigates
Show 3 more words
committeemancomradeconventioneerconventionerconventionistconversantcreatedebutantdrilldues-paying memberemanateembarkenlistenlisteeenrollenrolleeenterenter onenter uponentrant
Show 35 more words
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (168)
Verb(35 words)
introduceslaunch a balllaunch a campaignlaunchedlead upnucleatenucleatedopenedopensoriginateoriginatedoriginatingpioneerprefacedproceededprotourbanizingpush a buttonroll outsignalizessignalled
Show 15 more words
sow seedsparkingspearheadedsprangstartstart a projectstart enginestartedtriggeredturn the wheelsturn wheelsundertakenundertakesunleashesushered
Adjective(5 words)
inventinvestjoinerkick offlaunchleadlead offlead the waylearnerlife memberlift upmakememberneophytenew boynewcomernovicenovitiateone of usopen
Show 56 more words
ordainorganizeoriginatepickpioneerpledgepostulantpracticedpre-educateprecedepreparedprimedprobationerprobationistproduceprofessionalraiseraw recruitrecruitring inrookieset agoingset goingset in motionset offset on footset upsign onsign upsisterskilledsociussorority girlsorority womansparkspearheadstand firststartstart goingstart uptake intake the initiativetake the leadtake the plungetake upteachtechnicaltenderfoottouchtraintrainedtriggerturn ontutortyrousher in
Noun(52 words)
italian lanciarejijumpstartkicklansalauncelaunchlauncheslaunchinglaunching bandlearned personmore triggermotionmountmountsmove to changeneophytenew recruitnewcomeropen ended tasks
Show 32 more words
open gatheringopeningorigin firingpress startproceedingprospective memberpunditsavantseed bank governancesound triggerspark imaginationspearheadspearheadingspringboardspringboardsstartstart processstartingstartsstudent clubtask executionthreshold forcetirotraineetriggeringtriggerstripstyrousheringushersventure viabilityventures
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: beginner, novice, abecedarian, accept, accomplished.
- Sentence evidence is available for initiate, 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 "initiate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "initiate"
Keep "initiate" 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 "initiate" 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 "initiate", 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 "initiate" 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
23 entriesShowing 16 of 23 words.
More specific
13 entriesadmit into a programapprenticebegin a processenroll in a courseimplement a systeminduct into a clubinstitute a policyjunior memberlaunch a programlaunch a projectnew memberopen proceedingstrainee
Collocations
12 entriesinitiate a discussioninitiate a planinitiate a programinitiate a projectinitiate a studyinitiate ceremonyinitiate dutiesinitiate stepsinitiate trainingnew initiatenovice initiatethe initiate
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
22 total sentences available.
"I'll do my best" often means "I won't initiate anything".
Source: tatoeba (1361750)
To initiate the quest, first go to the tavern and talk to the quest-giver.
Source: tatoeba (6167637)
Politicians initiate wars, not ordinary people who suffer from them.
Source: tatoeba (9297483)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "initiate"?
Closest matches include beginner, novice, abecedarian, accept, accomplished.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "initiate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.