1
as in to destine
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 to order
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 to enact
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 ordain
Hicks grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and was ordained as a priest for the archdiocese in 1994.
—
Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The largest Christian grouping in Lebanon is the Maronites, an eastern church that recognizes the authority of the pope and is part of the Catholic Church but has its own traditions, including allowing married men to be ordained as priests.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox seminary to ordain women as rabbis, is in New York.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Many were spurred on by religious fervor and the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the Christian God had ordained that White settlers should colonize North America, from sea to shining sea.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Ashley Carnahan, FOXNews.com, 18 Dec. 2025
The largest Christian grouping in Lebanon is the Maronites, an eastern church that recognizes the authority of the pope and is part of the Catholic Church but has its own traditions, including allowing married men to be ordained as priests.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025
Yeshivat Maharat, the first Orthodox seminary to ordain women as rabbis, is in New York.
—Michal Raucher, The Conversation, 19 Nov. 2025
Many were spurred on by religious fervor and the concept of Manifest Destiny, the belief that the Christian God had ordained that White settlers should colonize North America, from sea to shining sea.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
-
Listen now to hear more about this month’s bake that is destined to wow!—
Bon Appétit,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
-
That Disneyland was destined to be the biggest bust in Hollywood history.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Free for all East Side San Jose residents, folks can sign up for pick up or order home delivery, as the foundation partners with DoorDash.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Trump, by contrast, ordered the capture of a leader already under narcoterrorism indictment and framed it as a drug bust and accountability for crimes, yet his opponents denounce him as aspiring to kingship and dictatorship.—
Paul Vallas,
Twin Cities,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Any plan for dividend checks would likely require new legislation passed by Congress, but no solid plans have been enacted.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Now, Loogootee has enacted another special events policy that mirrors several measures in the one that the court struck down.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Our findings don’t suggest that every workplace romance is doomed or exploitative.—
Emily Nix,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Like Crazy is a movie about how destructive an obsessive relationship can be, and because Samantha is the sane one in the ensemble, she’s doomed.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Jessica Ranucci, a lawyer in the New York Attorney General’s office, said in the Friday hearing, which was conducted by telephone, that at least four of the states had already had money delayed after requesting it.—
Geoff Mulvihill,
Twin Cities,
10 Jan. 2026
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With a general manager now in place, the Dolphins on Friday night called to express interest in former Ravens coach John Harbaugh and also requested interviews with three NFL assistant coaches, according to league sources.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Idaho has history of laws targeting trans people Over the past several years, the Idaho Legislature and lawmakers across the country have passed a series of bills targeting transgender youth and adults, several of which are now being litigated.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
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Recall that a year prior to Wardlaw passing her hot check, criminal court records confirm her guilty disposition for the crime of skipping out on a wholly different criminal-court appearance, which is a class C misdemeanor.—
Robert Steinbuch,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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