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
Both the actor and understudy for Friar Lawrence have been formally ordained as officiants to further merge romance, art and life.
—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
And the Catholic and Orthodox churches — the world’s two largest Christian communions — ordain only men to the priesthood.
—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
And the Catholic and Orthodox churches — the world’s two largest Christian communions — ordain only men to the priesthood.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Jakes delivered his first sermon in 1976 and was ordained in 1979.
—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
And the Catholic and Orthodox churches — the world’s two largest Christian communions — ordain only men to the priesthood.
—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
And the Catholic and Orthodox churches — the world’s two largest Christian communions — ordain only men to the priesthood.
—
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Jakes delivered his first sermon in 1976 and was ordained in 1979.
—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
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Polestar 4s destined for the US were built in South Korea, although much of Polestar’s manufacturing is in China.
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The scouting staff Always a moving target and destined to change by fall, the tracking of 2026 eligible prospects was conducted by the following scouts and executives.
Verb
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The spacecraft will then be ordered to slowly approach and survey Swift before grabbing the observatory with its robotic arms and slowly raising the orbit to nearly 370 miles.
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Larger versions serving 10 to 12 guests can also be ordered for private celebrations.
Verb
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Greenspan was also criticized for enacting policies that contributed to the subprime mortgage crisis that led to the recession at the end of the 2000s.
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After the collapse, state legislators enacted a law in 2022 requiring condo associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs.
Verb
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Crow-Armstrong’s poor offensive start doomed his chance to start, while the bad national publicity stemming from a viral video of his profane reaction to a harassing female White Sox fan probably didn’t help matters.
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Twentieth Century Fox had bet big on a blockbuster hit, but a real-life tragedy four months earlier ensured the film was doomed to be an also-ran at the box office.
Verb
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The Ohio Supreme Court has denied Mackenzie Shirilla's appeal requesting a new trial after she was convicted of murder in 2022.
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Around the same time, PennLive reporter Jenna Wise requested three autopsy reports related to a 2025 crime spree from Susquehanna County Coroner Jessica Chiaramonte.
Verb
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Then the youngest of the trio, the front-seat passenger, whom Shahsavani believed was closer to 10, joined the duo in sitting on the window opening as the vehicle passed Stewart Street.
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The legislation — a major priority for both Republicans and Democrats ahead of this fall's midterm elections — passed overwhelmingly, with a final tally of 358-32.
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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