1
2
3

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 In a separate lawsuit, a federal judge enjoined the administration from dismantling the CFPB. Ella Lee, The Hill, 29 May 2025 The law was initially enjoined from taking effect by a district court in Texas, but then the Fifth Circuit stayed the injunction. Clare Morell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025 The department argued that the injunction impacted repayment plan calculations for ICR, IBR, and PAYE, even though only SAVE itself was enjoined by the court. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 In 2020, when Trump issued a similar rule toward the end of his presidency, it was enjoined by a district court judge. The Editors, National Review, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for enjoin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin
Verb
  • Turning the page, Emerson wondered whether, had circumstance demanded, he might’ve been shown to possess a similar genius.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
  • Instead of debating issues, candidates would be demanding that those behind them in the polls drop out or risk playing spoiler.
    Andrew Yang, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Another common homeowner boundary issue arises when homeowners instruct HOA vendors, which is the manager’s role.
    Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
  • Key Background Congress approved topline spending goals earlier this year to enact Trump’s agenda, instructing relevant committees in the House and Senate to write policy legislation in line with the new figures.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Verb
  • The law prohibits predatory financial activities and requires lenders to obtain a license.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 24 June 2025
  • Both bills prohibit yield-bearing consumer stablecoins — but differ on agency regulatory oversight.
    MacKenzie Sigalos,Talia Kaplan,Jordan Smith, CNBC, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • Merging those datasets into a unified Salesforce environment requires careful data mapping to ensure that fields align effectively and relationships between unique data objects are preserved.
    Vamsi Gosu, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • The office of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said yesterday that the provision requiring litigants to post bonds has been struck from the legislation.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2025
Verb
  • Saturday’s strikes raised immediate questions about the extent of the U.S. involvement in the Middle East and about Trump’s authority to order the bombings without congressional approval.
    Brett Samuels, The Hill, 22 June 2025
  • Mahmoud Khalil greeted friends and spoke briefly to reporters Saturday at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey a day after a judge ordered his release from a federal immigration facility in Louisiana.
    Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2025
Verb
  • New York State law prohibits fully autonomous operation without a human driver in the car, thus forbidding the kind of driverless service Waymo provides in San Francisco and elsewhere.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • Illinois has long been a leader in privacy legislation, and its Biometric Information Privacy Act forbids the sale or exploitation of biometric data.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025
Verb
  • As a people leader, request that your staff turn their cell phones off in meetings.
    Martina Kuhlmeyer, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • Jeff Rogers, the 13th Judicial District prosecutor representing the state in the trial, said Wednesday that the defense requested the hearing be canceled because there were no issues requiring the court's consideration or decision.
    Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • In summer 2001, he was told to quickly pack his bags as the sheriff was coming to evict them.
    Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025
  • Additionally, Meghan remarked on how she’s been able to tell her story from her perspective.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 19 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on enjoin

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!