Synonyms of ordaining

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

• destining
• dooming
• predetermining
• predestining
• condemning
• foreordaining
• predicting
• fating
• preordaining
• prophesying
• foredooming
• sentencing
• forecasting
• predestinating
• foretelling
• presaging
• prognosticating
• foreseeing
• prejudging
• auguring
• anticipating
• divining
• foreknowing
• portending
• preconceiving
• foreboding
• boding

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

• ordering
• requesting
• asking
• mandating
• directing
• decreeing
• requiring
• dictating
• calling for
• calling
• commanding
• demanding
• petitioning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• canceling
• rescinding
• countermanding

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

• enacting
• passing
• approving
• legislating
• constituting
• making
• dictating
• authorizing
• laying down
• permitting
• ratifying
• sanctioning
• effecting
• executing
• proclaiming
• decreeing
• administering
• bringing about
• reenacting
• allowing
• repassing
• confirming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• revoking
• repealing
• abolishing
• killing
• invalidating
• rescinding
• reversing
• canceling
• overturning
• annulling
• nullifying
• abrogating
• voiding

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ordaining

Bishop Felix Davidek responded by secretly ordaining married men and some women, including Ludmila Javorová. — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

The church began ordaining women as priests in the 1980s, beginning with Lucia Okuthe of the diocese of Maseno South in 1983. — Stephanie Triplettall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

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