1
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
2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of ordain
The first woman to become an Anglican priest was Florence Li Tim-Oi of Hong Kong, who was ordained in Zhaoqing, China, in 1944.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Island in 1994 and served as vicar general and pastor of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary before his 2021 appointment to Colorado Springs, according to the archdiocese.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Aquila was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver in 1976, and this year marks his 50th anniversary as a priest.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Island in 1994 and served as vicar general and pastor of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary before his 2021 appointment to Colorado Springs, according to the archdiocese.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2026
The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015.
—Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Aquila was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Denver in 1976, and this year marks his 50th anniversary as a priest.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordain
Verb
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Or maybe it was just destined for this finish.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
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Knight added that perhaps a romance with Plumb was not destined to fully unfold.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
30 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
Verb
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Failure to enact required changes could result in big fines.—
Robert Pearlman,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
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At a time when states are enacting an anti-voting agenda to limit who can participate in elections, Maryland must set the standard for an inclusive democracy, not falling short of it.—
Nicole D. Porter,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Armenian government’s new embrace of Israel is just the latest move that could help doom the increasingly unpopular Pashinyan government, which first came to power in a pro-democracy revolution in 2018.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
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In all, that’s quite a record, one that might doom another Democrat’s candidacy.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 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
Verb
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The City Council passed the item by unanimous vote and without discussion.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
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The Mets will reassess after 10 days have passed.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordain. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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