1
as in destined
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 ordered
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 enacted
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 ordained
Cook, ordained in the United Church of Christ, is principal of Faith in the Public Square.
—
Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
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
He was ordained a priest in 1912 and began work in the Diocese of Omaha in 1913.
—ABC News, 23 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
The letter’s signatories included Amy Eilberg, the first woman to be ordained by the Conservative movement; Irving Greenberg, the the prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi, and David Wolpe, the rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Fisher grew up at Beth Am and even trained to be a rabbi there before becoming ordained.
—Lauren Costantino
march 14, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Peter Cook, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
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
He was ordained a priest in 1912 and began work in the Diocese of Omaha in 1913.
—ABC News, 23 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
The letter’s signatories included Amy Eilberg, the first woman to be ordained by the Conservative movement; Irving Greenberg, the the prominent Modern Orthodox rabbi, and David Wolpe, the rabbi emeritus of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026
Fisher grew up at Beth Am and even trained to be a rabbi there before becoming ordained.
—Lauren Costantino
march 14, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ordained
Verb
-
While Nikola Jokic appears destined to finish behind Victor Wembanyama in the MVP voting, another race remains very much in doubt.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this month, several outlets covered how garments destined for brands were piling up at airports in Bangladesh and India after Gulf carriers cancelled flights, with more than half of Bangladesh’s air cargo typically moving through Gulf hubs.—
Assef Shaikh,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Bonta ordered Bianco to halt his probe, the sheriff seized another 426 boxes of ballots last week.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
She is also being ordered to pay nearly $4 million in fines and court costs, more than half of it going to pay private attorney's fees that the county racked up in suing her.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The key language in the amendment was also included in citizenship laws enacted in 1940 and 1952.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The ban was previously enacted in 2009 after a resident was mauled by a pitbull.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Is Trump citizenship order doomed?—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps the international biennial is not doomed to fade away like the art of the medieval troubadour or the magic-lantern show.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The prosecution requested a prison sentence of life with 25 years fixed before any parole opportunity.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Apr. 2026
-
His attorney said that Medina-Medina had requested to be sent back to Colombia, where his mother had moved to, but had been transported by bus to Chicago.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
About 20% of global oil supplies passed through the waterway before the war.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But there was no finger pointing, no blame passed.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ordained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ordained. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
