ORDAIN Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ordain

verb

ȯr-ˈdān

Definition of ordain

as in to destine

to determine the fate of in advance he is stoic in the face of adversity, bolstered by his faith that everything in life has been ordained by a higher power

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in to order

to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority a new bill that would ordain the funding of public schools through state lottery revenues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to enact

to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action the founders of the African republic ordained a form of government that was closely modeled on that of the United States

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of ordain He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1985 and was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2010. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 July 2026 The ceremony was officiated by actor Adam Sandler, who is legally ordained. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 The Vatican said dialogue was offered to the group ahead of the schism and that the step of ordaining bishops without ⁠church approval was considered so grave that excommunication was automatic. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026 The Vatican said on July 2 that priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without Pope Leo's approval were in schism with the wider Church and now excommunicated. — Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ordain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain

Verb

Quantum Frederick is destined to dwarf the relatively tiny, 18-acre Vantage VA2 campus just across the state border.

— Scott Neuman, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
This was their first commercial project and my first bakery, so in many ways, it was destined to be.

— Samantha Rees, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of destine

Verb

Frimpong also ordered the government to thoroughly document the probable cause that leads to an arrest before a warrant could be obtained.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the immediate suspension of Niger ‌State’s ⁠NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

A couple of daggers to the heart doomed both the Ravens and the Bills last winter.

— Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
As if being ripped nationwide for his travel plans wasn’t painful enough, McVay will also be skewered for a baffling decision on a third-quarter play that could have rescued the Rams but instead doomed them.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of doom

Verb

Earlier that month, Greg Rogers, chief fiscal officer for the Education Department, said the department waited before requesting additional funds to determine how many students would actually use the accounts they were approved to receive.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
Among issues to be addressed at Friday’s pretrial hearing is Teuber’s motion requesting the court set bond or release him on his own recognizance.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

Celebrity judges Maria Bamford, Kumail Nanjiani, and Gianmarco Soresi vote on each performance, passing the players to the next round or eliminating them.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Kirk Cousins fired three TD passes to lead Las Vegas to a 26-14 victory on the road against the Chargers.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026