by decree
idiom
: because of an official order
He took his position by decree of the national government.
Examples of by decree in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Above all, Trump attempts to govern by decree, unconstrained by norms, shame, or the Constitution.
—
Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Chávez was reelected by a wide margin at the end of 2006, and the National Assembly passed a law authorizing the president to rule by decree for 18 months (a similar bill was passed in 2010).
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
During his tenure, 46 civil society organizations have been banned by decree (more than under any other government since 1959), hampering French civil society’s efforts to mobilize dissent.
—Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Hamas is removed from political life by decree.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by decree
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Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Chávez was reelected by a wide margin at the end of 2006, and the National Assembly passed a law authorizing the president to rule by decree for 18 months (a similar bill was passed in 2010).
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
During his tenure, 46 civil society organizations have been banned by decree (more than under any other government since 1959), hampering French civil society’s efforts to mobilize dissent.
—Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Hamas is removed from political life by decree.
—Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for by decree
Cite this Entry
“By decree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20decree. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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