edict

noun

ˈē-ˌdikt How to pronounce edict (audio)
Definition of edictnext
1
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority the school board's edict put a new student dress code into effect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in instruction
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned this household's edict of long standing: no television until all homework has been completed

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 edict The recent surge in removals came after a dramatic drop, brought on by both the pandemic, when child welfare cases decreased overall, and an edict imposed by Daniel Little, then-leader of the county’s Department of Family and Children’s Services. — Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 7 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 The president’s orders and edicts have no basis in reality, are nonsensical and are making our nation significantly less safe. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 Imagine if an edict came down from above tomorrow that says college athletes must be treated as full-time W-2 employees. — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for edict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for edict
  1. decree
  2. instruction
  3. ruling
  4. directive
  5. order
  6. direction
  7. injunction
  8. commandment
Noun
  • An emergency decree, signed by Hitler and Hindenburg, restricted press freedoms and public demonstrations.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
  • After the decree’s expiration in 2018, Republicans ramped up their recruitment of poll watchers for the 2020 presidential election.
    — Mark Krasovic, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of decree
Noun
  • Those conversations range from lunches and athletics to classroom instruction and college opportunities, and several student recommendations have already led to changes this year.
    — Lina Ruiz October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The company’s security controls technically worked, as the agent faithfully carried out the fraudster’s instructions.
    — Caryn Seidman Becker, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of instruction
Noun
  • Following the ruling, Benson drowns her sorrows over cocktails with Sharpe, and, in a revealing, impeccably acted scene, airs out her grievances about her job.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The commission's conclusion was not a ruling by an international court.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruling
Noun
  • Industry watchers are awaiting any official guidelines for enforcement of its new directive, which may come from the Office of Director of National Intelligence (headed by task force chair Jay Clayton) and the Federal Trade Commission.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The directive bars brands from turning a benefit tied to one feature into an environmental claim about the whole product.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of directive
Noun
  • Eight finalists will compete in a series of challenges inspired by the skills required to make each and every order.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Roberts had moved Shohei Ohtani down to sixth in the batting order and put Will Smith behind him.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of order
Noun
  • Disappointingly, her screenplay proceeds to unfold in a procession of frustrating get-outs and compromises, repeatedly choosing the least interesting or challenging direction to take this would-be throuple.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Also back here is a dual-pattern power supply mount with two captive screws that serve one of the two supported mounting directions.
    — Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of direction
Noun
  • The judge, Timothy Kelly, is expected to rule by then on whether to grant the news outlets a preliminary injunction, something that would prevent the White House from denying access on a longer term.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The injunction also required the NCAA to open a short transfer portal window for the plaintiffs.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of injunction
Noun
  • This is, of course, the conception of fundamentalist theology, which threatens eternal hellfire for anyone who defies its commandments.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The first commandment of my Grove tent is that the chicken shall be Popeye’s (dark meat, no tenders), for all the obvious reasons.
    — Wright Thompson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of commandment

Browse Nearby Words

edibles
edict
edicts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Edict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/edict. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of syncretic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All