DECREE Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

decree 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈkrē

Definition of decree

as in edict

a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned the boss doesn't give out many decrees, but he does expect those that are issued to be fully obeyed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ruling

an order publicly issued by an authority a decree issued by the state's supreme court to the legislature

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decree

2 of 2

verb

as in to order

to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the new supervisor decreed that thenceforth coffee breaks would have a 15-minute limit

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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 decree

Noun

The decree renames one of the four Great Lakes, while providing a legal and philosophical justification for the act. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026 Under a presidential decree published on the presidential website on Wednesday, Musk was awarded the Order of Freedom. — Reuters, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Their forbidden love leads the Jade Emperor to decree their separation on opposite sides of the Milky Way. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 What if, God forbid, a fascist government decreed that unmarried people could have sex on just one night of the year? — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decree

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decree

Noun

Many believe Beijing perceived Tung as a loyalist who would obey the Communist leadership’s edicts.

— Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Countless speakers left the Pale of Settlement – the territory in Eastern Europe where Jews had been granted permission to live under an edict of the Russian czars.

— Ilan Stavans, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of edict

Noun

Some told the Miami Herald that the ruling blocks the path to asylum and that the cases cannot be evaluated in a vacuum.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
The ruling blocked Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from conducting the election using the new map.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of ruling

Verb

Earlier this year, Johnson ordered Chicago police to collect evidence for possible felony charges against agents.

— Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
Dialogue comes from recordings with native speakers, and lessons focus on real-world scenarios like ordering food or navigating an airport instead of vocabulary drills.

— StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of order

Noun

The appeal asked that the court either excuse the juror who was allegedly refusing to follow instructions or inquire further to determine whether the juror could in fact follow the judge's instructions to correctly apply the law.

— Carmel Wroth, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
The prosecution suggested that the jurors be instructed to return to the deliberations without any further instruction or voir dire.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of instruction

Noun

In addition to saying the Fourth Circuit lacked jurisdiction, the US said the FCC got the law right in its directive to TV stations.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
The palace directive keeps their formal royal titles in abeyance, frames their charitable work as private and leaves contentious security arrangements to police and a government panel.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of directive

Verb

But hey, this is a girl who requested that her college graduation gift be a trip to see the HOF in Canton.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Under such a contract, customers (like the Navy) will request Seasat to supply the boats, launch them, maintain them, operate the autonomous system, and presumably provide the sensor/data service.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of request

Noun

Wright and Harris are among about 20 former college athletes granted a temporary injunction by a Louisiana judge Thursday night.

— Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
On Thursday, plaintiffs were granted a preliminary injunction by Judge William Jorden of the 19th District Court of Louisiana that allows them to be rostered by different schools for the upcoming season.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of injunction

Noun

Kyle Ross / Imagn Images First there was Bohm doubling back — a debatable decision, certainly, with a strong center fielder and a ball hit toward one of the trickiest parts of Citizens Bank Park.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
This part of Friday’s decision cited the Supreme Court’s previous ruling that limits on coordinated spending violated the First Amendment.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of decision

Browse Nearby Words

decreasingly

decree

decreed

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Style

“Decree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decree. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of decree

noun

verb

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