ENJOIN Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid , charge , command , direct , instruct , and order . While all these words mean "to issue orders," 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 can 'bid' be used instead of 'enjoin'?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, 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?

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 'enjoin'?

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 'enjoin'?

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: Where would 'order' be a reasonable alternative to 'enjoin'?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, order may suggest peremptory or arbitrary exercise. // ordered his employees about like slaves

enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin

Definition of enjoin

as in to demand

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority police enjoined the community's full cooperation in getting rid of the drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to instruct

to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority undeterred, the captain enjoined his crew to sail at full speed into the mine-filled harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to prohibit

to order not to do or use or to be done or used Quakerism enjoins the taking of human life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb enjoin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of enjoin are bid, charge, command, direct, instruct, and order. While all these words mean "to issue orders," enjoin implies giving an order or direction authoritatively and urgently and often with admonition or solicitude.

a sign enjoining patrons to be quiet

When can bid be used instead of enjoin?

Although the words bid and enjoin have much in common, bid suggests giving orders peremptorily (as to children or servants).

she bade him be seated

How do charge and enjoin relate to one another?

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 enjoin?

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 enjoin?

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

Where would order be a reasonable alternative to enjoin?

While the synonyms order and enjoin are close in meaning, 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 enjoin Curtis Morrison of Red Eagle Law notes in an interview that the Dorcas decision enjoins the USCIS holds, but the government has appealed that order. — Stuart Anderson, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Only one section of the president’s executive order on this care is currently enjoined. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 Some of the restrictions enjoined by the decision have been on the books since 1997. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 If the court agrees, Minnesota could be enjoined from enforcing the law against any nudification app. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enjoin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin

Verb

These tests will measure how effectively the hardware handles demanding workloads, although HPE has not disclosed specific processing speeds or expected benchmark results.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Many Worlds demands that our universe actually be a multiverse.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

To counter these scams, Apple instructed its retail store employees to check every return package and ensure all box components, including the iPhone, are returned in good condition.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
Lauren Jones, a photographer from Savannah, Georgia, told Glamour that after acne-like rashes appeared on her cheeks, her esthetician instructed her to wash only with cold water and her hands for four weeks.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

The curfew prohibits anyone from entering or remaining on the Place de la République, where rioting took place Saturday, and the shopping neighborhood of Les Halles, which has been subject to looting.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
If admiration and support for female athletes drive support for prohibiting transgender women from participating in women’s sports, then those who favor Title IX should also favor bans.

— Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Verb

Selective harvesting can help restore kelp forests, Salomon says, but doing so effectively requires sustained effort.

— Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Best Affordable Option Some affordable mattresses require compromise, but contributor Jacorey Moon doesn’t feel that’s the case with Zinus’ Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of require

Verb

In August 2022, Garza was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial and ordered to be jailed until a bed in a state mental health treatment facility was available.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
An Eagle man charged with animal cruelty in the shooting deaths of two caged cats was ordered to serve a total of 14 days in jail after accepting a plea deal in August, according to court records.

— Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Ambassadors are ostensibly bound by Article 41 of the 1961 Vienna Convention, which forbids them to interfere in their host country’s internal affairs.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
The organization forbids chapters from hosting parties open to people not specifically invited when alcohol is present, and requires chapter leaders to prepare guest lists in advance of such events.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of forbid

Verb

With Election Day now less than two weeks away, more than 2 million absentee ballots have been requested across Michigan.

— Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

Lamm told TechCrunch that conventional breeding can produce dogs with poor eyesight or genetic predispositions to cancer.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Beirut City Pop, the latest compilation by archival label Habibi Funk, tells the story of the artists who dared to imagine a life beyond war.

— Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of tell

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enigmatic

enjoin

enjoined

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“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of enjoin

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