as in passes
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
Congress enacts all laws relating to foreign trade and immigration
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Recent Examples of enacts
The siting of the rites at the Colosseum—where it has been held since 1964, echoing a practice from the eighteenth century—means that the Pope enacts Jesus’ final hours not in a Baroque basilica but against the backdrop of the Roman Empire, which exercised power through violence.
—
Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
Waymo doesn’t plan to launch its service in Minnesota until the state enacts new laws to set up basic regulations.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
However, the laws can’t go into effect until the federal government enacts similar legislation, and the 2023 version of the bill fizzled out in a congressional committee.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
However, that law wouldn’t go into effect unless Washington state enacts similar regulations.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Senate Enrolled Act 76, which enacts penalties for local units of government that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
And one way the city could do that is a zoning moratorium, which essentially enacts a temporary pause on accepting or approving certain zoning applications in a particular area.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Rumyantsev’s Joseph in Nirvana, 2026, enacts this tidal project through a parafictional installation about the persistent cult of Stalin in Tajikistan, whose capital was named Stalinabad until 1961.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Mauritanian survivor Koumba Diabaté enacts a beat-for-beat recreation of his Casino Royale fantasies in the Imperial Sky Villa of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
Paul Elie, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
Waymo doesn’t plan to launch its service in Minnesota until the state enacts new laws to set up basic regulations.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
However, the laws can’t go into effect until the federal government enacts similar legislation, and the 2023 version of the bill fizzled out in a congressional committee.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2026
However, that law wouldn’t go into effect unless Washington state enacts similar regulations.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Senate Enrolled Act 76, which enacts penalties for local units of government that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 5 Mar. 2026
And one way the city could do that is a zoning moratorium, which essentially enacts a temporary pause on accepting or approving certain zoning applications in a particular area.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
Rumyantsev’s Joseph in Nirvana, 2026, enacts this tidal project through a parafictional installation about the persistent cult of Stalin in Tajikistan, whose capital was named Stalinabad until 1961.
—Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Mauritanian survivor Koumba Diabaté enacts a beat-for-beat recreation of his Casino Royale fantasies in the Imperial Sky Villa of the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino.
—Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enacts
Verb
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An elevated rail line passes through to carry coal to the rest of the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2026
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And Tehran’s stranglehold on the strait — through which a fifth of the world’s oil typically passes each day — has already driven up energy prices worldwide, raising fears of an impending oil shock.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Considering the quantity of hydrocarbons that are naturally entering Gulf of Mexico waters, what exactly constitutes an environmental disaster?—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Because the therapist who challenged the law, Kaley Chiles, engages in talk therapy — without prescribing medications or having any physical contact with patients — the majority decided that the Colorado law constitutes a restriction on her speech due to her particular viewpoint, or opinion.—
Theresa Gaffney,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Congress still legislates, albeit at a glacial pace.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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Cannon-Brookes is urging Australia to show more ambition on climate action, even as the new government legislates plans to strengthen the country’s carbon emissions cuts.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ellary Tucker Williams, legislative and community engagement coordinator for the Department of Fish and Game, also testified and said the Fish and Game Commission, which approves rules and regulations for the agency, supported the bill.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2026
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If the state approves these changes, New York City will be able to speed up too — our administration will ensure that rezoning applications can begin public review in six months or less.—
Leila Bozorg,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The league brings in less revenue, for one, and its CBA also dictates that no player can sign a contract for an AAV greater than 20 percent of the salary cap — proportionally lower, by 15 percent, than the NBA supermax.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
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Remember, too, that while the conventional wisdom dictates that a new mortgage rate that's a full percentage point lower than your current one is worth pursuing, sometimes a rate that's just half a percentage point lower could also be valuable.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Enacts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enacts. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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