ordaining

verb

present participle of ordain
1
as in destining
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 ordering
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 enacting
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 ordaining The Vatican said dialogue was offered to the ​group ahead of the schism and that the step of ordaining ​bishops without ⁠church approval was considered so grave that excommunication was automatic. — Reuters, NBC news, 5 July 2026 Although Anglican churches in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and New Zealand began ordaining women as priests as early as the 1970s, the Church of Nigeria resisted such developments. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordaining
  1. dooming
  2. ordering
  3. enacting
  4. requesting
  5. passing
Verb
  • Vibrations from earth-moving equipment could have triggered further collapses, possibly dooming Gil — and his would-be rescuers.
    — Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • The Philadelphia Phillies slugger did exactly that in the second inning with two on and two out, taking a 92 MPH fastball 418 feet into the right field seats, dooming the Mets in a 6-2 loss Sunday night.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026
Definition of dooming
Verb
  • Insider tip If a full villa is not in the cards, look at one of the mid-tier suites and then lean heavily into in-room dining; ordering an omakase-style spread plus cocktails to your room is one of the most fun ways to use this hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Summer House Canada follows Hayu earlier ordering its first original series, The Real Housewives of London, which was recently renewed for a second season.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
Definition of ordering
Verb
  • The city council would not be able to vote on enacting the moratorium until December.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
  • Thursday's administrative agreement was expected to remove obstacles to enacting the earlier deal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of enacting
Verb
  • The hysteria often comes with a fat dollop of Trumpian imperiousness, not requesting your engagement so much as demanding it.
    — Michelle Cottle, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • The complaint seeks damages, profits from the allegedly infringing work, and an injunction preventing Hatchet from being sold or exhibited, while also requesting that the painting either be turned over to Reemtsen or destroyed.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of requesting
Verb
  • The current tax system could further incentivize wealthy Americans to hold onto assets longer before passing them down, prolonging the Great Wealth Transfer to an extent, but maximizing gains for the next generation of heirs.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • Romo would retire as the team’s all-time leading passing yardage and touchdowns thrown leader, though his passing yards record would be later broken by Dak Prescott who is also on pace break his touchdowns record next year.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of passing

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Cite this Entry

“Ordaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordaining. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ordaining

Nglish: Translation of ordaining for Spanish Speakers

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