1
as in edict
a statement of what to do that must be obeyed by those concerned
the boss doesn't give out many decrees, but he does expect those that are issued to be fully obeyed
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruling
an order publicly issued by an authority
a decree issued by the state's supreme court to the legislature
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to order
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority
the new supervisor decreed that thenceforth coffee breaks would have a 15-minute limit
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decree
Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Friday that has imposed sanctions on five Russian cultural figures who are involved with organizing the Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Anthropic’s contract decreed its technology couldn’t be used to surveil American citizens or program autonomous weapons to kill without human involvement.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decree
Noun
Maduro became president in 2013, succeeding Hugo Chavez, and ruled Venezuela by decree granted through the ruling party since 2015.
—Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on Friday that has imposed sanctions on five Russian cultural figures who are involved with organizing the Russian Pavilion at the 2026 Venice Biennale.
—Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Regulators decreed setbacks from wells be at least 2,000 feet.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Anthropic’s contract decreed its technology couldn’t be used to surveil American citizens or program autonomous weapons to kill without human involvement.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decree
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decree
Noun
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While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That worries Thomas Johnson, a Black voter in New Orleans who was at the state Capitol to lobby on unrelated legislation Wednesday when the Supreme Court ruling came down.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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The committee does not explain the reasoning behinds its rulings – the season’s fourth and final batch of rulings were made today – but despite her prominence in the revival’s marketing campaign her role as the wife of Nathan Lane’s Willy Loman apparently was deemed a supporting character.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rybochkin said that the unit’s chief engineer had ordered it.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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He was ordered held without bail at his arraignment Saturday at Manhattan Criminal Court.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gukesh’s calm at the board was buttressed by an unusual focus in his training, on psychology, alongside the more traditional tactical and strategic instruction.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
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Start with a fertilizer program of once in March, May and October using an 8-0-12-4Mg for palms developed by the University of Florida following label instructions.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Pentagon In a letter sent to the GAO in March, Merkley and the other lawmakers alleged the DOJ did not comply with the law's directive to protect victims while releasing the Epstein files.—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
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Their directive is 100 percent positivity — pure Paula Abdul energy, without a grain of Simon salt in any of their shakers.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Storms' former spouse, who first filed the restraining order in December, is also requesting that the Disney Channel alum undergo a mental health evaluation, People reports.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Neither the defense nor the prosecution requested such an order; Dawkins issued it on her own initiative.—
Jamie Kalven,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In a preliminary injunction, Judge Robert Pitman stopped short of ordering a temporary air conditioning remedy.—
Leigh Waldman,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
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The government said in responding court documents that all necessary reviews were conducted and the plaintiffs' claims did not demonstrate a preliminary injunction would be in the public interest.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While Saudi Arabia and OPEC had no immediate reaction, Emirati Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei insisted his country’s decision did not stem from any dispute with its Gulf neighbor.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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This is basically every aerophobic flier’s worst nightmare, and Harlin does a solid job of maintaining the fear factor and shock right up to the moment of Rich’s decision to dump fuel and ditch, since the nearest airport, Guam, is out of range.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decree.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decree. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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