adjective

extending or moving from one place to another without changing direction or stopping.

there was no direct flight that day

straight,undeviating,unswerving,shortest,quickest,non-stop,unbroken,uninterrupted,straight through,through

adverb

with no one or nothing in between.

they seem reluctant to deal with me direct

directly,straight,in person,without an intermediary,tête-à-tête

verb

control the operations of; manage or govern.

an economic elite directed the nation’s affairs

administer,manage,run,control,govern,conduct,handle,be in charge of,be in control of,be in command of,be the boss of,lead,head,command,rule,preside over,exercise control over,be responsible for,be at the helm of,supervise,superintend,oversee,guide,regulate,orchestrate,coordinate,engineer,mastermind,run the show,call the shots,call the tune,pull the strings,be in the driving seat,be in the saddle