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
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
The list is a veritable who’s-who in golf, and winning in Cromwell has become a priority since the event was ordained with Signature Event status in 2024.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 16 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
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
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
The list is a veritable who’s-who in golf, and winning in Cromwell has become a priority since the event was ordained with Signature Event status in 2024.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 16 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordained
Verb
-
The movie initially seemed destined to have a happy ending as audiences awarded it an impressive 87% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Federal customs officials at Washington Dulles Airport seized 139 pounds of Ethiopian khat, a plant chewed for its amphetamine-like effect, that was destined for Sacramento.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
In addition to the prison sentence, Høiby was ordered to pay compensation to the victims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
In addition to the prison sentence, Hoiby was ordered to pay compensation to the victims.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration had enacted a supplementary budget of 3 trillion yen to shield households from rising energy costs, months after passing the yearly budget.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 June 2026
-
While the Supreme Court lifted tariffs on many goods, ruling that the executive order used to impose them was unconstitutional, tariffs on auto parts were enacted under a different authority, and remain in place.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The visage of the Mexican painter, whose work was once overshadowed by that of her husband, has become so iconic—doomed to emblazon T-shirts around the world—that it has been largely decontextualized from Frida, the human being.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
-
This was the disjointed, mistimed offense that doomed the Spurs.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Most recently, in April, a funding shortfall strained the supply of medicine, according to the two correctional health staff members who requested anonymity.—
Gavin J. Quinton,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
The Sacramento City Teachers Association has requested more clarity on the district’s special education spending, as SCUSD moved to lay off employees, while trustees have also pressed for more certainty around the district’s assumptions.—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The bill passed unanimously in the state Senate in January.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
More than a decade has passed since Cristiano Ronaldo last played a football match in the United States.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordained. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
