Synonyms of enjoin

enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin 

1

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

• demand
• require
• request
• ask
• claim
• command
• want
• call (for)
• need
• press (for)
• quest
• insist (on)
• exact
• stipulate (for)
• necessitate
• impose
• clamor (for)
• take
• plead (for)
• warrant
• harass
• cry (for)
• requisition
• dun
• hound
• badger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yield
• surrender
• give up
• relinquish

2

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

• instruct
• order
• tell
• ask
• command
• direct
• bid
• beg
• boss (around)
• advise
• adjure
• warn
• appoint
• require
• charge
• compel
• request
• petition
• authorize
• beseech
• counsel
• entreat
• force
• assign
• supervise
• coerce
• conduct
• oblige
• manage
• constrain
• oversee
• lead
• control
• superintend
• commission

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• keep
• follow
• obey
• mind
• observe
• comply (with)

3

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

• prohibit
• forbid
• ban
• outlaw
• discourage
• prevent
• stop
• halt
• proscribe
• preclude
• exclude
• bar
• restrain
• interdict
• deter
• dissuade
• quash
• deprive
• suppress
• curb
• repress
• impede
• hinder
• reject
• silence
• subdue
• disallow
• quell
• inhibit
• shut out
• rule out
• debar
• obstruct
• repudiate
• block
• veto
• embargo
• squelch
• check
• crack down (on)
• clamp down (on)
• put down
• crush
• snuff (out)
• squash
• rein (in)
• bridle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permit
• let
• allow
• suffer
• approve
• authorize
• endorse
• sanction
• indorse
• encourage
• promote
• warrant
• support
• forward
• cultivate
• advance
• license
• order
• further
• nurture
• nourish
• bid
• command
• tolerate
• abet
• abide
• endure
• bear
• licence
• countenance
• brook

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

Recent Examples of enjoin

Along with their civil complaint, the plaintiffs filed an emergency motion asking the court to enjoin the school from eliminating the teams until the litigation has been resolved. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 July 2025

Two lower courts rose to the occasion, preliminarily enjoining the mass firings while the litigation remains ongoing. —Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025

The district court enjoined further implementation or approval of the plans based on its view about the illegality of the executive order and memorandum, not on any assessment of the plans themselves. —July 8, CBS News, 8 July 2025

The majority holds that, absent cumbersome class-action litigation, courts cannot completely enjoin even such plainly unlawful policies unless doing so is necessary to afford the formal parties complete relief. —Erwin Chemerinsky, Mercury News, 3 July 2025

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