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
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 ordain
Martin was ordained in 1999 and began working full-time as an editor at America, a Jesuit magazine.
—
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Shortly before the Constitution was written, Haynes would become the first Black minister ordained in the United States.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Kozak was ordained April 27, 1967, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
For decades, liberal denominations have permitted women to be ordained.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Shortly before the Constitution was written, Haynes would become the first Black minister ordained in the United States.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Kozak was ordained April 27, 1967, according to the Archdiocese of Chicago.
—Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
For decades, liberal denominations have permitted women to be ordained.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
-
Originally destined for slaughter during the Eid al-Adha festival, the 1,500-pound animal was seized by authorities, spared sacrifice and relocated to the capital’s zoo, where keepers lavish it with care.—
al Emrun Garjon,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
The final season of creator Christopher Storer’s show is a slam dunk for fans and destined to be the subject of a thousand think pieces.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Guests can also order customized barrel heads, or lids, to take home.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Under pressure from the officer on the phone, Sandra, her fiancé, and other employees at the establishment are ordered to put Becky through a series of increasingly exploitative and humiliating experiences — all in the name of upholding the law.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
That coming Fall of 2020, universal masking in schools and daycares was recommended by the CDC and widespread mandates were enacted at the state, district and county levels for children as young as two.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
Instead, the measure freezes corporate net operating loss and enacts taxes on social media companies, digital assets, fantasy sports, tobacco and sports betting on prediction market websites.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Parents hear so much about AI these days—how their kids are using it in the classroom and to socialize, even considering it a friend in some cases—and one of the most prominent debates going on right now is whether AI is here to save humanity, or doom it.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
7 June 2026
-
The researchers were dealing mostly in speculation — the gene modification technology that scientists could use to doom the screwworm is untested at scale and not ready to be deployed.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Speakers at the council meeting all requested answers from the council regarding why the event was canceled.—
Maven Navarro,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
-
When a party requests that a proceeding be sealed, a judge will often solicit input from the other side and allow third parties, such as the public and news media, to also provide input.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Our ancestors—the hard-working, long-suffering peasant women who told these stories to each other and passed them down the generations through the oral tradition—knew everything there was to know about adversity.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
The massive red-brick building opened in 1900 and 12 million immigrants passed through its halls before the island closed in 1954.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
