1
2
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

3
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ordain Kim, who became the first woman ordained in the Seoul Diocese of the Anglican Church of Korea, had been invited to develop the Episcopal church’s connection to Asian communities, said Mary Rothwell Davis, an attorney for the Episcopal Diocese of New York, where Go’s mother is a reverend. Kimmy Yam, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2025 Inspired by the visions of the prophets and mystics, Later Prophets is the latest project from the Jazz Rabbi, saxophonist and ordained rabbi Greg Wall, together with master percussionist Aaron Alexander, keyboardist Shai Bachar and bassist Fima Ephron. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2025 Now, Dacus, who says she is ordained in the United States, is looking for fans to tie the knot during select shows on her Forever Is a Feeling Tour. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 23 July 2025 In his nearly 30 years on death row, he has been ordained as a pastor and started a church. Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
  • As the Cincinnati Reds piled on against Shane Bieber in the second inning of Wednesday’s series finale, the Toronto Blue Jays seemed destined for a series loss.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez appears destined for free agency as contract talks are reportedly completely silent.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The arbitrator also ordered the city to pay Biscari back wages and benefits as well as the legal costs that Local 42 accrued in pursuing the grievance.
    Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2025
  • At the same time, the White House has ordered immigration enforcement in cities around the country.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Congress had enacted byzantine eligibility requirements for disability and Supplemental Security Income benefits, forcing the agency to expend huge amounts of time and money running those programs.
    Eli Hager, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Chérizier, 48, who’s been actively meeting with former rivals, may be trying to duplicate the conditions in Carrefour, a sprawling suburb south of the capital where gangs now settle disputes, enact rules and profit from residents’ commercial activities.
    Johnny Fils-Aimé, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The mission was doomed, and the satellite crashed back to Earth.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
  • As a direct result of that hospitality, the women’s respective causes soon become more aligned than either Joan or Alina would have wanted, and any harm visited upon one of them eventually threatens to doom the other as well.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This past July, the conservative advocacy group America First Legal requested a federal investigation of the chain due to its alleged discrimination against white employees.
    Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The big tech giant won’t be required to sell its Chrome browser — one of the remedies originally requested by the Biden-era Department of Justice.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The seven restaurants on the Sick and Shut Down List were allowed to reopen after passing re-inspection.
    David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
  • But with each passing summer of enormous transfer spending, the chances of turning the boat around fade ever further.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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