decree 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈkrē How to pronounce decree (audio)
Definition of decreenext
1
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruling
an order publicly issued by an authority a decree issued by the state's supreme court to the legislature

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Her husband, Count Alfred de Baillet Latour, came from a dynasty dating back more than three centuries, the title born of an imperial decree by Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1719. — Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 Zelenskyy added to Putin’s misery by issuing a parody presidential decree allowing the parade to proceed. — Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Verb
But for some reason the powers that be have decreed artificial intelligence a civilizational imperative, requiring the hurried construction of swarms of data centers, on Earth and in space. — Mark Gongloff, Mercury News, 24 June 2026 In April 2022, the ATF issued a rule decreeing that ghost guns had to conform to the same regulations as regular firearms, including carrying serial numbers and requiring background checks. — Alec MacGillis, ProPublica, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for decree
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decree
  1. edict
  2. ruling
  3. order
  4. instruction
  5. directive
  6. request
  7. injunction
  8. decision
Noun
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The memorandum includes a pledge by Iran to never purchase or construct nuclear weapons — a vow the Islamic Republic has made multiple times before, including by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a religious edict issued by the late supreme leader and in the Obama-era nuclear accord.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of edict
Noun
  • Friday’s rulings empower athletes who finished college this past spring and who want to return.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The July 8 ruling prevents law enforcement from being able to deport migrants who swim into the territories, reversing a practice of deporting them on the spot without a legal process.
    — Miguel Macias, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruling
Verb
  • The reversal came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported Trump had ordered the military to prepare a fresh attack that could begin as soon as the weekend.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Targaryen prince does not order his own dragon to pursue.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Stop transmitting sleep devaluation, since the research indicates your team is reading your hours as instruction.
    — Mena Mirhom, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Ryerson said the terrain itself can be as critical as instruction in helping beginners progress.
    — David Caraccio Updated July 31, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Two weeks earlier, Anthropic had to disable access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models to comply with an export control directive that was issued by the Commerce Department.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 20 July 2026
  • Sachin Sharma, a deputy commissioner of police, said Wangchuk’s hospitalization was carried out following medical advice and a court directive.
    — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of directive
Verb
  • Some immigrants requested more time before their next hearings, presenting evidence of having been defrauded by unscrupulous attorneys profiled in local news reports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The sheriff's office requested photos or videos that may show the child on a raft or boat with other children before the incident, as well as anyone who may have witnessed the child before she was pulled from the water.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of request
Noun
  • Another is Judge Sweeney bypassing a temporary restraining order (TRO) to issue a more lasting preliminary injunction (PI).
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Washington, who played last season at Vanderbilt, was the lead plaintiff in the complaint filed July 6 by the Texas Trial Group seeking the injunction.
    — Teresa M. Walker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of injunction
Noun
  • The conspiracies of the Heat mistakenly leaking James’ decision to return to Miami also picked up steam, and the Heat simultaneously skyrocketed on the Polymarket and Kalshi prediction market platforms as James’ next team.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Defense attorney Marilyn Bednarski said Burke’s mother, Colleen Burke, managed most of the company’s financial decisions.
    — Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 22 July 2026
Definition of decision

Browse Nearby Words

decreasingly
decree
decreed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decree. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on decree

Nglish: Translation of decree for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All