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
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Recent Examples of ordaining
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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordaining
Verb
-
Worth ordering something to eat, too?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
The survey also found majority support in all parties for government interventions including testing additives for safety before they can be included in food products, banning artificial dyes, requiring warning labels, and ordering companies to reduce the amount of sugar and salt in their foods.—
Sarah Todd,
STAT,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The council is responsible for adopting the city budget, approving contracts, enacting local laws and representing residents on issues ranging from housing and homelessness to public safety and economic development.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
3 June 2026
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The law prevents cities from enacting ordinances that dictate wage levels or working hours for employers.—
DJ Simmons,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Verb
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In the year 2027 (which is somehow just one year from now, please stop, passage of time), Children of Men imagines a world where women have been infertile for years, dooming humanity to a slow extinction.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
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If that’s true, then the YIMBY activists pushing for zoning reforms around the country are making a terrible mistake, dooming themselves to repeating California’s failed experiment.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company filed a ticket a week before work began, requesting that gas lines be properly marked.—
Brian New,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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Yes, and this study was motivated again by increasing reports from our blood bank that people were calling and requesting blood from donors who specifically did not receive the Covid-19 vaccination.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Congress could also intervene, Budington said, by passing legislation that allows a private right of action after data breaches, allowing victims to pursue cases directly instead of relying on state laws or waiting for state attorneys general to take up a case.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
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The long days of summer feel designed for leisurely train travel, journeys that unfold at an unhurried pace and encourage travelers to settle in and enjoy the passing scenery.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordaining. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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