ORDAIN Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

ordain

verb

ȯr-ˈdān

Definition of ordain

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

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

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

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 ordain Sheen was born May 8, 1895, in El Paso, Illinois, and was ordained a priest in 1919. — Aleja Hertzler-McCain, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026 The Episcopal Church has allowed women to be in ministry since 1974, and Ashby was ordained by Lamb. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 So what if the credulous smallfolk now believe that the Usurper’s rule is ordained by the Gods? — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 The program was slowly implemented, and the first native African ministers ordained in Kenya, Ishmael Semler and William Jones, were ordained in 1885. — Stephanie Triplettall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ordain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain

Verb

Miami could also move Kadyn Proctor to right tackle, the position most think Miami’s 2026 first-round pick is destined to play once Jackson moves on.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
These results don’t mean women with ADHD are destined to die earlier.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of destine

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

People who had already turned 55 when the law was enacted also were given until August 2021 to file lawsuits, no matter when the alleged abuse occurred.

— John Hanna, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
In the same era, Democrats in Congress enacted a raft of social programs that would become part of the language, such as Medicare and Medicaid.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of enact

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

Adebayo could pass Haslem to become the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder on Wednesday when the Heat takes on the Hawks in Atlanta.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Since 2022, when the law passed, enrollment in community colleges has grown by twenty-seven thousand.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026