ORDINANCES Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

ordinances

noun

plural of ordinance

as in laws

a rule of conduct or action laid down by a governing authority and especially a legislature a local ordinance forbids all street parking during snowstorms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

higher laws

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 ordinances The sober home ordinances that the state is attacking are modeled after Costa Mesa’s rules; rules that have prevailed over these exact kinds of objections in federal court. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 9 July 2026 The city also needs to change its own outdated ordinances but is waiting until the new rules are enacted, management analyst Giovanni Jungo told the Elgin City Council at its Wednesday night meeting. — Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 Granbury City Council passed this set of ordinances in April that established standards for data centers and power-generation facilities. — Mary Ella Hastings updated July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026 Indian Trail and Matthews are weighing new restrictions on sidewalks and greenways, while Charlotte City Council has launched its own review of whether the city’s ordinances have kept pace with technology. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 7 July 2026 Noise ordinances exist to balance construction needs with neighborhood peace and prevent excessive disruptions. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 5 July 2026 On top of that, noise and nuisance ordinances can come into play, especially late at night, giving police grounds to respond when fireworks are reported as a disturbance or hazard. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 3 July 2026 The law does not require cities to adopt ordinances expanding golf cart driving permissions. — Matthew Kelly july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 That can lead them to feel pressure to build new roads, modify their land-use ordinances and approve requests from companies wishing to build within their boundaries. — Lauren Mullenbach, The Conversation, 1 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordinances

Noun

The deal could close as soon as July 22, though several states, including Oregon and California, are investigating whether the $111 billion transaction violates their antitrust laws.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 11 July 2026
Prediction markets can legally operate in Texas because they’re regulated by the federal government rather than under state gambling laws.

— Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2026

Definition of laws

Noun

Mehrabian recalled seeing acts like Tale Of Us and Solomun at Lot 613 in their early days.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Government repression increasingly targeted Catholic clergy in communities in Quiché, and Gerardi began to openly protest the violent acts.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 July 2026

Definition of acts

Noun

Michelin said defeating the current version of the measure is California Retailers Association’s top priority of all the bills that are still pending in the Legislature.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 11 July 2026
Those include grocery vouchers, housing vouchers for those who elect to relocate during cleanup, air purifiers, cash assistance and support for utility bills.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026

Definition of bills

Noun

But although the court has been expanding executive power in some situations, the justices have reduced the leeway administrative agencies have to issue regulations that add additional requirements to clear statutes.

— Benjamin Leff, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
Many of the rules can be derived from statutes (Open Meeting Act, Civil Code Sections 4900-4955) and good meeting rules can add further important guidance.

— Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026

Definition of statutes

Noun

The Constitutional Court ruled that Tokayev can run again when his term expires in 2029 because his current tenure does not count under amendments to the constitution that were approved in a nationwide vote in March and came into force this month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 July 2026
With four council members already on board, the proposal seems likely to pass, but that doesn’t mean last-minute objections and amendments are not possible when the ordinance comes before the council this month for final adoption.

— Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026

Definition of amendments

Browse Nearby Words

ordinance

ordinances

ordinaries

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ordinances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordinances. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ordinances

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on ordinances

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

xeric

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes