1
as in destined
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 ordered
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 enacted
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 ordained
After the war, he was ordained and served as a minister at the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church from 1804 until his death in 1827.
—
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
In 1962, Lazowski was ordained and served as the spiritual leader of Beth Shalom Synagogue in Hartford until 1969.
—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
John Rahimi, Raymond Grieshaber, and Conrad Espino were ordained on Saturday morning during a ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral on the city's Near North Side.
—
Cbs Chicago Team,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
The award-winning scholar was the first American ordained as a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition after studying under the 14th Dalai Lama, close friend Tenzin Gyatso, as noted in a 1996 New York Times profile.
—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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
Jakes delivered his first sermon in 1976 and was ordained in 1979.
—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
On the left was Fleck at age 26, when he was ordained.
—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
According to his biography on the New York archdiocese website, Dolan was ordained into the priesthood by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on June 19, 1976.
—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2026
In 1962, Lazowski was ordained and served as the spiritual leader of Beth Shalom Synagogue in Hartford until 1969.
—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2026
John Rahimi, Raymond Grieshaber, and Conrad Espino were ordained on Saturday morning during a ceremony at Holy Name Cathedral on the city's Near North Side.
—
Cbs Chicago Team,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
The award-winning scholar was the first American ordained as a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition after studying under the 14th Dalai Lama, close friend Tenzin Gyatso, as noted in a 1996 New York Times profile.
—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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
Jakes delivered his first sermon in 1976 and was ordained in 1979.
—
Frannie Comstock,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
10 June 2026
On the left was Fleck at age 26, when he was ordained.
—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
According to his biography on the New York archdiocese website, Dolan was ordained into the priesthood by the Archdiocese of Saint Louis on June 19, 1976.
—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordained
Verb
-
In Doral, volunteers at the nonprofit organization Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) have been working around the clock, filling boxes with supplies destined for Venezuela.
-
The best opportunity came on another Norwegian corner kick when Torbjørn Heggem’s close-range shot looked destined for the back of the net before being blocked off the line by Ivory Coast midfielder Amad Diallo.
Verb
-
He was also ordered to pay $120,000 in restitution and $25,000 to the city.
-
At a hearing on June 24 observed by The Times, 14 immigrants didn’t make their appointment, and were ordered removable by the end of the day.
Verb
-
While the tax law of 2025 led to some modifications in the QSBS rules, the tax changes apply only to shares acquired after that law was enacted.
-
Notably, the change was enacted on a bipartisan basis, Cassidy said.
Verb
-
The bill has already passed the House but would otherwise almost certainly be doomed in the upper chamber due to Republicans’ razor-thin majority.
-
Argentina were dysfunctional and doomed.
Verb
-
The other justices did not report any publishing income, but Samuel Alito, whose book is slated to publish later this year, requested a 90-day extension to file his disclosures.
-
In response, Kalshi requested that the case be transferred to federal court, arguing that the federal court had jurisdiction.
Verb
-
The elevator subsequently passed a county inspection and has been cleared for use.
-
After McDonald’s announced plans to open a restaurant in Mattituck, the town passed an ordinance banning drive-throughs; when CVS arrived, the locals capped the size of big-box stores.
Cite this Entry
“Ordained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordained. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
