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1. Requiring attention or action
   "as nuclear weapons proliferate, preventing war becomes imperative"; "requests that grew more and more imperative"
    
2. (grammar) relating to verbs in the imperative mood

1. A mood that expresses an intention to influence the listener's behaviour
   - imperative mood, jussive mood, imperative form
    
2. Some duty that is essential and urgent

Derived forms: imperatives

See also: adjuratory, assertive, clamant, crying, desperate, exigent, insistent, instant, peremptory, pressing, self-asserting, self-assertive, shrill, strident, urgent

Type of: duty, modality, mode, mood, obligation, responsibility

Antonym: beseeching

Encyclopedia: Imperative