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
He was ordained in 2004 and arrived in the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2009.
—
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Hicks grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and was ordained as a priest for the archdiocese in 1994.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The largest Christian grouping in Lebanon is the Maronites, an eastern church that recognizes the authority of the pope and is part of the Catholic Church but has its own traditions, including allowing married men to be ordained as priests.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox seminary to ordain women as rabbis, is in New York.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Hicks grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and was ordained as a priest for the archdiocese in 1994.
—Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The largest Christian grouping in Lebanon is the Maronites, an eastern church that recognizes the authority of the pope and is part of the Catholic Church but has its own traditions, including allowing married men to be ordained as priests.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox seminary to ordain women as rabbis, is in New York.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
-
These are the kind of looks destined for celebrity closets before the show even ends.—
Larry Stansbury,
Essence,
15 Jan. 2026
-
While unfortunate, this doesn’t mean your amaryllis is destined for the trash can.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Greg Nyberg, who quickly phoned the Washington Air National Guard and ordered that a helicopter to attempt a rescue.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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The buyer called the number, prompting House officials to investigate and discover that multiple phones ordered under Southerland’s account were unaccounted for, prosecutors said.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To date, 27 states have enacted laws barring transgender participation in sports.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
13 Jan. 2026
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The city’s housing crisis began nearly a century ago during the Great Depression (more than 35 years before the Landmarks Law was even enacted), and has experienced a series of improvements and setbacks with the ebbs and flows of our developing and unpredictable economy.—
Michael S. Hiller,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Poor perimeter shooting doomed the team in his absence, as the Celtics went just 9-for-35 from 3-point range (26%) in the loss.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
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Philadelphia was again doomed by a lethargic offensive effort that cost it a shot at a repeat championship.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Fiscal Year 2026, the Baltimore County Public School System requested nearly $3 billion from the county.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
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The Falcons have also requested an interview, though Joseph is off-limits until Denver’s season is done.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Idaho has history of laws targeting trans people Over the past several years, the Idaho Legislature and lawmakers across the country have passed a series of bills targeting transgender youth and adults, several of which are now being litigated.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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Recall that a year prior to Wardlaw passing her hot check, criminal court records confirm her guilty disposition for the crime of skipping out on a wholly different criminal-court appearance, which is a class C misdemeanor.—
Robert Steinbuch,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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