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
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Recent Examples of ordained
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
Though several unlicensed Beatles archives exist around the United Kingdom—including in the band’s Liverpool hometown—the new one, formally named The Beatles at 3 Savile Row, is the first to be officially ordained by the band and its label, Apple Corps.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
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
While women cannot be ordained as priests or deacons, they are not forbidden from teaching the faith as theologians, catechists and scholars.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
For decades, liberal denominations have permitted women to be ordained.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Planners razed coconut plantations, sketched marina slips and golf courses, and ordained where tourists would sleep, eat, and jet ski.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The first female Anglican priests were ordained in 1994, its first female bishop in 2015, and now Mullally as the first archbishop of Canterbury.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Though several unlicensed Beatles archives exist around the United Kingdom—including in the band’s Liverpool hometown—the new one, formally named The Beatles at 3 Savile Row, is the first to be officially ordained by the band and its label, Apple Corps.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
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
While women cannot be ordained as priests or deacons, they are not forbidden from teaching the faith as theologians, catechists and scholars.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
For decades, liberal denominations have permitted women to be ordained.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Planners razed coconut plantations, sketched marina slips and golf courses, and ordained where tourists would sleep, eat, and jet ski.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
The first female Anglican priests were ordained in 1994, its first female bishop in 2015, and now Mullally as the first archbishop of Canterbury.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordained
Verb
-
Surely, being a prophet destined to die on the cross would be a painful vocation, and the film refuses to look away from this pain.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
-
Legend says that tourists who grind their heels on the bull's testicles and spin in place three times are guaranteed good fortune and are destined to return to the city.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The judge in the Eastern District of Virginia had only ordered the department to temporarily freeze the fund, and barred it from making any payments while the judge considered legal arguments in a lawsuit brought against the fund.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
An immigration judge ordered his removal in 2020.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Dozens of state laws enacted in recent years mandate that cities do their part to address California’s housing crisis by creating new homes at all income levels.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
-
Four years into the Great Depression, Congress enacted the National Industrial Recovery Act as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to stimulate the economy.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The other thing that doomed them to a seventh loss in their past eight games is akin to a crack in their foundation.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2026
-
Consider that internal Republican opposition doomed last year’s effort to preempt state laws, a debate that feels like light years away from the more bipartisan conversation that’s already happening.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The person requested anonymity because they're not permitted to speak publicly about the confidential discussions.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
In July, Thomas, 30, filed a petition to establish parental relationship with the actress, 37, in Los Angeles, and requested joint legal and physical custody of Louetta, along with an order for visitation, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.—
Liza Esquibias,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Certainly not that of artists; over the last twenty years, the gatekeeping function has passed from critics to curators to a few major dealers to collectors themselves.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
According to county officials cited by WIBC, Habib also passed the federal E-Verify employment-authorization check during onboarding.—
Alexandra Koch , Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordained. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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