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
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
—
Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Aquila was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver in 1976, and this year marks his 50th anniversary as a priest.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The letter’s signatories included Amy Eilberg, the first woman to be ordained by the Conservative movement; Irving Greenberg, the the prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi, and David Wolpe, the rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Fisher grew up at Beth Am and even trained to be a rabbi there before becoming ordained.
—Lauren Costantino
march 14, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Aquila was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver in 1976, and this year marks his 50th anniversary as a priest.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
The letter’s signatories included Amy Eilberg, the first woman to be ordained by the Conservative movement; Irving Greenberg, the the prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi, and David Wolpe, the rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Fisher grew up at Beth Am and even trained to be a rabbi there before becoming ordained.
—Lauren Costantino
march 14, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
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Even those who win court awards or settlements against Prospect seem destined to be treated as unsecured claims in the company’s bankruptcy.—
Peter Elkind,
ProPublica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
No teams are destined to win anymore, except for maybe a 1 seed against a 16 seed.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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My sister, Louise, had spent hours perfecting the screechy, imperious cry of Starscream, only to use it when phoning the takeaway and ordering curry sauce and chips.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
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In the kitchen, as well as using vegetables grown in the garden or nearby, the hotel has adopted Meat Free Monday to encourage guests to order vegetarian meals at least once a week.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two states — Utah and Florida — have enacted bans.—
Kaan Ozcan,
NBC news,
13 Apr. 2026
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According to Barnard, the center has both threatened family separations and enacted them.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Such as a rough fourth quarter against the Pistons that doomed the Hornets.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Apr. 2026
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That campaign would face up against longstanding fears about the Royals leaving town after the Chiefs’ announced move to Kansas, fears that could doom a race to collect signatures.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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However, four commissioners requested a review of the decision, and the measure ultimately passed the commission unanimously.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Two months later the girl requested my daughter pay for half of the Airbnb which was $1,200!—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both have sufficient power to quickly get you up to highway speeds or pass a slow-moving vehicle without trouble.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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The complaint, which put the Bible ban in the spotlight at Tuesday's meeting, was made after RUSD officials passed a controversial policy that allows the removal of books deemed inappropriate for students.—
Lesley Marin,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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