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as in plot
the unfolding of events in a dramatic or literary work the mystery writer displays a sure hand in managing the novel's complicated but never incoherent action

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in lawsuit
a court case for enforcing a right or claim filed an action in county court to recover his lawn mower from his neighbor, who claims he "gave" it to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in field
active fighting during the course of a war the battalion saw action soon after it arrived in France

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of action People have a lot of ways to communicate beliefs and goals: through language, actions, subtle subtext and a myriad of cultural cues and social norms. Charlotte Hu, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2025 Here is the rest: First Team Ty Jerome, Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers Statistics: 12.2 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.3 APG, 51-43-87 shooting Sift through the list of the NBA’s best, highly frequented actions this season and there aren’t many surprises. Fred Katz, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 So far no one has suggested that the deaths are the result of enemy action—that is to say, Belarusian or Russian action—except in the sense that Americans are in Lithuania in the first place to deter a Russian attack. Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2025 In none of these examples do people today, or those of the past, deserve these actions. Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for action
Recent Examples of Synonyms for action
Noun
  • However, things are smooth sailing for the couple as they were spotted having dinner with friends in New York City at Crane Club just days before the awards ceremony.
    Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Other than making music, my go-to thing was riding bikes.
    Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Throughout the new Max reality series, archival clips from the siblings' past are intertwined in the episodes — but the plot primarily centers on their modern-day lives, highlighting their careers as pro boxers and wrestlers.
    Skyler Caruso, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • His story of being put on a Kremlin kill list after exposing the Kremlin plot to poison Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is told in Antidote, a documentary directed by James Jones that also premiered at CPH:DOX.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There have been shoot-first-aim-later mass firings of federal workers and stop-work orders, which have generated a slew of lawsuits against those in the government and DOGE.
    Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The changes coincide with extraordinary immigration measures that have prompted dozens of lawsuits claiming that Trump’s presidency is exceeding constitutional limits and other legal boundaries.
    Brad Heath, Joshua Schneyer, Marisa Taylor, Sarah N. Lynch, Mike Spector, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Subdivisions are often built on old, exhausted agricultural fields.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius track and field: McCuskey-Hay won three events for SI in a dual meet against Presentation on Tuesday.
    Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Bridgers and her colleagues surveyed 260 U.S.-based parents to get a sense of how widespread loophole-finding behavior was in their children.
    Charlotte Hu, Scientific American, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Recognize and reward high performers to reinforce positive behaviors and keep your team motivated.
    Melissa Johnson, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Our continental ambition would ironically lead to Canadian dominance of our legislative branch.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Following a year of whispers, of suggestions that PIF’s interest was waning, the noises are that PIF has privately reasserted its wider ambitions — which Eales’ successor will be tasked with achieving longer-term — something which has had a stimulating effect behind the scenes.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • There’s a real power in the Chocolate Drops getting back together at this moment in time, after the group helped spawn so many new acts in the past decade.
    Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Opening acts in select cities include Marshmello, The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls.
    Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • This alert is in effect until 7 p.m. Source: The National Weather Service This story was originally published March 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 19 Mar. 2025
  • When circumstances arise, an editor’s note can be added to a story.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Action.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/action. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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