ENJOIN Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'enjoin' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid , charge , command , direct , instruct , and order . While all these words mean "to issue orders," enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude. // a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

Q: When can 'bid' be used instead of 'enjoin'?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants). // she bade him be seated

Q: How do 'charge' and 'enjoin' relate to one another?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility. // charged by the President with a secret mission

Q: How are the words 'command' and 'order' related as synonyms of 'enjoin'?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority. // a general commanding troops

Q: How does the word 'direct' relate to its synonym 'instruct', in the sense of 'enjoin'?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality. // directed her assistant to hold all calls // the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

Q: Where would 'order' be a reasonable alternative to 'enjoin'?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise. // ordered his employees about like slaves

enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin

Definition of enjoin

as in to demand

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority police enjoined the community's full cooperation in getting rid of the drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to instruct

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority undeterred, the captain enjoined his crew to sail at full speed into the mine-filled harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to prohibit

to order not to do or use or to be done or used Quakerism enjoins the taking of human life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enjoin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid, charge, command, direct, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When can bid be used instead of enjoin?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of enjoin?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How does the word direct relate to its synonym instruct, in the sense of enjoin?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls

the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

Where would order be a reasonable alternative to enjoin?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 enjoin Some of the restrictions enjoined by the decision have been on the books since 1997. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Her lush videos lure and enjoin viewers to try their hand at her style of vegan cooking. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 29 July 2026 If the court agrees, Minnesota could be enjoined from enforcing the law against any nudification app. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 But Nexstar tried to do that after its merger with Tegna was enjoined in April — and is still stuck in limbo with no assurance of resolution anytime soon. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enjoin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin

Verb

Light builds devices around the idea that technology should demand less attention, with a lineup that includes the Light Phone III and the flip-phone-style Light Flip.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
Throughout the war, Tehran has repeatedly demanded their closure, and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has turned the argument on Gulf leaders, saying the bases have made their countries targets without delivering the security Washington promised.

— Becky Anderson, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

People inside Notre Dame Stadium were instructed to remain there, while others on campus were told to shelter in place.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
As a result, military doctors are instructed not to prescribe testosterone therapy to anyone hoping to have children in the near future.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

The sentiment echoes a broader ban across the United Kingdom from August that prohibits smart glasses in the courtroom.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026
In his dissent, Scalia argued that the ESA was written narrowly to prohibit the intentional hunting and killing of vulnerable animals, not to broadly protect species at the population level.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Verb

The approach can potentially work with samples containing only tens or hundreds of atoms, dramatically reducing the amount of material required compared with conventional NMR.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
Grayscale mode, minimalist launchers and app blockers can all make an iPhone feel less distracting without requiring a hardware swap.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of require

Verb

Frimpong also ordered the government to thoroughly document the probable cause that leads to an arrest before a warrant could be obtained.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the immediate suspension of Niger ‌State’s ⁠NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Greek courts have upheld the claim that extradition of Greek nationals is forbidden.

— CBS News, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
The filmmaker contrasts her bucolic nature scenes with shots of the giant ships passing by and the interiors and exteriors of the factories located near the island, belching smoke and lit up at night like a forbidding theme park.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of forbid

Verb

When Arisa proclaims herself a Faithful, Michael looks hilariously stunned, and Alan tells them to weep for the fall of innocence and the failure of justice.

— Alice Burton, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Hawaii officials told residents to put together emergency kits and the governor issued an emergency proclamation, activating more than 230 Hawaii National Guard members.

— MEGAN JANETSKY, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of tell

Browse Nearby Words

enigmatic

enjoin

enjoined

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of enjoin

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

confabulate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 25

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes