Companies welcome workers who take initiative.
Source: tatoeba (20733)
Initiative
/ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/
Synonyms for "initiative" (258 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (52)
Noun(24 words)
enterpriseability to cause changeaction - frenchactivenessagenciesagenticnessapply oneselfassembly line pushbelonging at schoolboldnessboost ecosystem vitalitybotany researchcampaigncampaignscharge aheadclxicombatcommunity partnershipscommunity-buildingcooperative learning promotion
Show 4 more words
Adjective(4 words)
agential roleagentic behaviorcitizen-led programdanish måle
Verb(1 words)
apply effort
Strong matches (77)
Verb(2 words)
drive the rotor fasterimprove performance
Noun(19 words)
drive with efforteagernessefforteffortsenterprisesenterprisingnessenvironmental restoration actionequipment upgradeexercise agencyexploration enthusiasmfirst stepforaysfoster school belonginggo gettergo-aheadgreen energy programhealth measurehustlesincrease physical activity
dynamismelanelementalelementaryembryonicenergyenterpriseenterprisingnessfacultative referendumfetalfirefirstfirst blushfirst glancefirst impressionfirst inningfirst lapfirst movefirst roundfirst sight
Show 29 more words
first stagefirst stepforceforcefulnessformativefoundationalfundamentalgambitgestatoryget-up-and-getget-up-and-gogetupgingergogo aheadgo-aheadgo-gettinggo-to-itivenessgumptionhustlein embryoin its infancyin the budinauguralinceptiveinchoateinchoativeincipientincunabular
Related words (129)
indirect initiativeinfantinfantileinitialinitiatoryintroductiveintroductoryinventivekickle premier pasleadleadershiplibertymandatemandatory referendumnascentnatalopening moveoriginalparturient
Show 47 more words
peppepperpiss and vinegarpizzazzplebisciteplebiscitumpooppostnatalpregnantprenatalprimalprimaryprimeprimevalprimitiveprimitivenessprimitivityprimogenialprocreativepunchpushpushfulnesspushinesspushingnessrecallreferendumresourceresourcefulnessrudimentalrudimentarysnapspiritspunkstarchstatutory referendumstepthrustup-and-comingnessurventuresomenessventurousnessvervevigorvimwarming-upzingzip
Noun(52 words)
individual effortjump intojumpstartmavikmeasuremeasure adverbmeasure educational impactmeasure effortmeasure linguistic abilitymeasure ofmeasure sample worksheetmeasure social growthmeasure work capacitymore campaign-relatedmore independentmotivation levelmove to changenurture school cultureonslaughtsopening
Show 32 more words
opening moveoutreachoverturesplanportuguese agênciapress forwardpreventionproactivityprocess improvementprogramprogramsproposalpush onquestsredesignreformreinventingretrofitsself chosen actself-efficaciousnessservice expansionshape the futuresocial issuespearheadingspringboardsstart a clubstate-administeringstep forwardsustainability efforttask motivationuplift communityventuring
Adjective(7 words)
Adverb(1 words)
more school community
Verb(2 words)
push forwardreduce environmental output
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: enterprise, abecedarian, ability to cause change, aboriginal, action.
- Sentence evidence is available for initiative, 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 "initiative".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "initiative"
Keep "initiative" 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 "initiative" 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 "initiative", 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 "initiative" 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
8 entriesMore specific
4 entriesacademic initiativeliteracy initiativescience initiativestudent initiative
Collocations
6 entriesclassroom initiativeliteracy initiativenew initiativeschool initiativescience initiativestudent initiative
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
5 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
15 total sentences available.
Don't be shy about talking to the teacher; if you don't understand, use some initiative!
Source: tatoeba (25789)
This initiative follows the DCA phone conference on Dec 17 attended by 40 people from 27 firms.
Source: tatoeba (57778)
The city took the initiative in the pollution suit.
Source: tatoeba (246177)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "initiative"?
Closest matches include enterprise, abecedarian, ability to cause change, aboriginal, action.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "initiative"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.