ENJOIN Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enjoin' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid , charge , command , direct , instruct , and order . While all these words mean "to issue orders," enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude. // a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

Q: When can 'bid' be used instead of 'enjoin'?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants). // she bade him be seated

Q: How do 'charge' and 'enjoin' relate to one another?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility. // charged by the President with a secret mission

Q: How are the words 'command' and 'order' related as synonyms of 'enjoin'?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority. // a general commanding troops

Q: How does the word 'direct' relate to its synonym 'instruct', in the sense of 'enjoin'?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality. // directed her assistant to hold all calls // the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

Q: Where would 'order' be a reasonable alternative to 'enjoin'?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise. // ordered his employees about like slaves

enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin

Definition of enjoin next

as in to demand

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority police enjoined the community's full cooperation in getting rid of the drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to instruct

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority undeterred, the captain enjoined his crew to sail at full speed into the mine-filled harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to prohibit

to order not to do or use or to be done or used Quakerism enjoins the taking of human life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enjoin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid, charge, command, direct, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When can bid be used instead of enjoin?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of enjoin?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How does the word direct relate to its synonym instruct, in the sense of enjoin?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls

the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

Where would order be a reasonable alternative to enjoin?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 enjoin Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map. —

Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 The result will be a legal race to see which of those courts enjoins the policy first. —

John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 22 Apr. 2026 And that relief would be to sue to enjoin the parties from closing the transaction. —

Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026 Yale psychologist and researcher Stanley Milgram demonstrated that good people will do bad things if enjoined to do so by an authority. —

Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enjoin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin

Verb

Kenya’s foreign minister flew to Moscow in March to demand that Russia stop recruiting Kenyans, describing the pipeline bringing Kenyan citizens to Russia as a human trafficking ring.

— Max Saltman, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
The mother of a man killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bike in Manhattan is demanding justice for her son.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

Instead of paying for a dedicated customer relationship management (CRM) or project management tool, or a customer service platform, a business could theoretically instruct an AI agent to handle all of it.

— Tyler Hochman, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
If there was any threshold of flooding at which sheltering in place would be abandoned and campers would be instructed how and where to evacuate to higher ground, that plan would have been known only to the camp’s co-executive director, Dick Eastland.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 23 June 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

The specially emulsified formula keeps the ceramides evenly dispersed (no shaking required), while the lightweight mist feels especially refreshing on hot, humid summer days.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
Starting with the graduating class of 2031, students will be required to complete the course to earn a diploma.

— Conor McGill, CBS News, 23 June 2026

Definition of require

Verb

The spacecraft will then be ordered to slowly approach and survey Swift before grabbing the observatory with its robotic arms and slowly raising the orbit to nearly 370 miles.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 June 2026
Larger versions serving 10 to 12 guests can also be ordered for private celebrations.

— Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Definition of order

Verb

King had been allowed to return to work on the condition that he was forbidden to contact any employees who are witnesses in the criminal case, according to the court’s order.

— Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026
Commodities law, which covers prediction markets, also forbids deceptive and misleading practices.

— Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 22 June 2026

Definition of forbid

Verb

The Ohio Supreme Court has denied Mackenzie Shirilla's appeal requesting a new trial after she was convicted of murder in 2022.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026
Around the same time, PennLive reporter Jenna Wise requested three autopsy reports related to a 2025 crime spree from Susquehanna County Coroner Jessica Chiaramonte.

— Jonah Walters, The Conversation, 24 June 2026