1
as in to destine
to determine the fate of in advance
he is stoic in the face of adversity, bolstered by his faith that everything in life has been ordained by a higher power
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to order
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
a new bill that would ordain the funding of public schools through state lottery revenues
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to enact
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
the founders of the African republic ordained a form of government that was closely modeled on that of the United States
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ordain
And one of the tenets of that faith is that God ordains everything.
—
Scott Pelley, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Leo was ordained as an Augustinian priest in 1982.
—USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Leo grew up, was educated and then ordained in the States but spent decades as a church leader elsewhere, including in poor areas of South America.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Cook, ordained in the United Church of Christ, is principal of Faith in the Public Square.
—Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Scott Pelley, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026
Leo was ordained as an Augustinian priest in 1982.
—USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Leo grew up, was educated and then ordained in the States but spent decades as a church leader elsewhere, including in poor areas of South America.
—Bill Barrow, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Cook, ordained in the United Church of Christ, is principal of Faith in the Public Square.
—Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
-
Or maybe it was just destined for this finish.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Knight added that perhaps a romance with Plumb was not destined to fully unfold.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Early in the morning on May 6, police in riot gear encircled the encampment and ordered everyone to clear out, arresting 64 individuals who stayed.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Henry White was sentenced to 37 months in prison in December and was ordered to pay the same restitution amount as his sister, officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
An interim report from the Royal Commission released in April, which examined the capacity of Australian law enforcement and the security services to respond to antisemitic crimes, recommended that Australia’s leaders prioritize enacting nationally consistent gun laws and a weapons buyback.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
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This act interferes greatly with local departments of planning and development for erroneous climate protocols enacted by Ronald Regan.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Financial turmoil worsened by soaring jet fuel prices doomed the budget carrier, leaving thousands of customers scrambling for flights on other airlines.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
-
In the year 2027 (which is somehow just one year from now, please stop, passage of time), Children of Men imagines a world where women have been infertile for years, dooming humanity to a slow extinction.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Storms' former spouse, who first filed the restraining order in December, is also requesting that the Disney Channel alum undergo a mental health evaluation, People reports.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Neither the defense nor the prosecution requested such an order; Dawkins issued it on her own initiative.—
Jamie Kalven,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The City Council passed the item by unanimous vote and without discussion.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Mets will reassess after 10 days have passed.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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