BID Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'bid' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bid are charge , command , direct , enjoin , instruct , and order . While all these words mean "to issue orders," bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants). // she bade him be seated

Q: How do 'charge' and 'enjoin' relate to one another, in the sense of 'bid'?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility. // charged by the President with a secret mission

Q: How are the words 'command' and 'order' related as synonyms of 'bid'?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority. // a general commanding troops

Q: How does the word 'direct' relate to its synonym 'instruct', in the sense of 'bid'?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality. // directed her assistant to hold all calls // the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

Q: When can 'enjoin' be used instead of 'bid'?

While the synonyms enjoin and bid are close in meaning, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude. // a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

Q: When might 'order' be a better fit than 'bid'?

The words order and bid can be used in similar contexts, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise. // ordered his employees about like slaves

bid 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bid

as in attempt

an effort to do or accomplish something a dramatic film that is widely regarded as the comedian's last-ditch bid to be taken seriously as an actor

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bid

2 of 2

verb

ˈbid

as in to order

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority the servants were expected to do exactly as they were bidden

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to invite

to request the presence or participation of as company president, I bid you all to come to our annual holiday party!

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bid contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bid are charge, command, direct, enjoin, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another, in the sense of bid?

Charge adds to enjoin an implication of imposing as a duty or responsibility.

charged by the President with a secret mission

How are the words command and order related as synonyms of bid?

Both command and order imply authority and usually some degree of formality and impersonality; command stresses official exercise of authority.

a general commanding troops

How does the word direct relate to its synonym instruct, in the sense of bid?

Direct and instruct both connote expectation of obedience and usually concern specific points of procedure or method, instruct sometimes implying greater explicitness or formality.

directed her assistant to hold all calls

the judge instructed the jury to ignore the remark

When can enjoin be used instead of bid?

While the synonyms enjoin and bid are close in meaning, enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When might order be a better fit than bid?

The words order and bid can be used in similar contexts, but order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise.

ordered his employees about like slaves

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 bid

Noun

Her victory over leftist challenger Roberto Sánchez marks her fourth presidential bid and makes her Peru’s first female president-elect. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 At the same time, Dickinson told me, this expanding defense collaboration will boost Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Verb

According to Variety, Netflix, A24, and Focus Features decided not to bid for the film. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 1 July 2026 There wasn’t all that much to bid on, and Acciari does fill a void as a fourth-line upgrade over Garnet Hathaway, whose game dramatically declined last season and who was dealt last week to the Florida Panthers. — Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bid

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bid

Noun

No one expects Moreno to spend like the Dodgers do (and even Walter’s fellow owners want a salary cap in an attempt to stop the Dodgers).

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
One interception attempt resulted in a large explosion that spectacularly blew the roof off a fuel tank.

— Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Definition of attempt

Verb

That kind of granular information is important for emergency responders in the field and planners who make decisions about calling for extra help or ordering evacuations.

— Eric Niiler, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Americans across the nation are being asked (or ordered) to conserve water, thanks to widespread drought made even worse by a punishing heat wave.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Swifties are pretty pumped (check out this Kansas City bakery's wedding cake) and are tracking any sign of what the bride will wear, what inside the arena look like and who's invited (or not).

— Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 July 2026
While chatting with ExtraTV at the Tight Ends & Friends concert presented by Sports Illustrated and Reese's, San Francisco 49ers player George Kittle confirmed he was invited to the upcoming ceremony — and revealed one of the pair's wedding rules.

— Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of invite

Noun

Keiko Fujimori, Peru’s most powerful politician over the past decade, has won the presidency once held by her father on her fourth try, according to official results.

— Helena Carpio, Washington Post, 2 July 2026
But virtual try-on technology has been tackling this challenge by letting shoppers try on different frame proportions and styles.

— K.H. Koehler, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of try

Verb

People are instructed to scan the QR link on the letter that will lead them to a list of available appointments to reschedule their test.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
The agency has instructed contractors that families at the facility cannot be referred to as prisoners, detainees or inmates, records show.

— JACK BROOK, ABC News, 6 July 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

When asked about his All-Star nod over the weekend, Joe Ryan focused on his team’s offense and the upcoming schedule instead of himself.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
Darnell didn’t have an answer when asked if Acuff, Clifford and Cardwell will play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday in the final game of the California Classic.

— Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026

Definition of ask

Verb

During Murdaugh’s first status hearing on Monday, June 29, Judge Debra McCaslin did not rule on the DNA evidence, telling defense attorneys to clarify if the sample was viable.

— Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
My parents tell stories about me sleeping through loud construction, alarms, and heavy knocks on my bedroom door.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2026

Definition of tell

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“Bid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bid. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of bid

noun

verb

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More from Merriam-Webster on bid

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

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