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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

Examples 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 In a late December ruling, the government has (again) been enjoined from enforcing the BOI reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024 Last Thursday, Chief U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell enjoined the NCAA from enforcing bylaw 12.02.6 to preclude Pavia from playing D-1 football in 2025. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2024 Mello says that Kearney has directly harassed eight witnesses in the case and has enjoined his followers to do the same. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 23 Feb. 2024 Advertisements enjoined ordinary Americans to send in their original poems and lyrics, which the company would set to music for a rather large fee—a few hundred dollars, depending on the year. Luke Savage, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enjoin 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin
Verb
  • Cultivate work-life balance Senior professionals often face the challenge of managing demanding roles alongside personal commitments.
    Andrew Fennell, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
  • That means more jobs will demand some kind of postsecondary credentials than Americans are now projected to earn.
    Jon Marcus, NPR, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • At the end of the meeting, Netanyahu instructed the director of Mossad David Barnea, the Director of Shin Bet Ronen Bar and IDF general Nitzan Alon to travel to Doha immediately in order to push forward the hostage and ceasefire deal, the prime minister's office said.
    Barak Ravid, Axios, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Not quite six years ago, wildfire expert Jack Cohen, who lives in Missoula, Mont., visited Pacific Palisades to instruct firefighters and property owners on how to protect homes against wildfires.
    Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Direct interference with another institution’s committed player and contractual interests is prohibited by NCAA tampering rules and the law.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Under the law, mobile app stores are barred from offering TikTok and internet hosting services are prohibited from delivering the service to American users.
    Haleluya Hadero, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Short-haired pets may require a quick brush once weekly, whereas long-haired breeds can benefit from daily grooming sessions.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Cheshire’s project specifications required that the work be done under dry conditions along with environmental controls to prevent uncured geopolymer mortar from leaking into Cuff Brook.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • This was not out of choice: After his capture and before his execution, Höss was ordered to write his memoir, giving an insight into the workings of a mind that was both ordinary and chillingly evil.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025
  • She was ordered held on Rikers pending a transfer to New Jersey to face the charges.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Defense attorneys have now asked Cannon to extend her order forbidding the report's release, a move the Justice Department opposes.
    Robert Legare, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Problem #1: Ex Post The Constitution forbids states to enact ex post facto laws, those that impose penalties for actions that took place before the laws were enacted.
    William Baldwin, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Eudora Police Department requested the assistance of state police.
    Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The Federal Trade Commission advises anyone whose debit or credit card Information was exposed to do the following: Contact your bank or credit card company to cancel your card and request a new one.
    Fernanda Galan, Sacramento Bee, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trump attempted one last time to get a judge to block the report but was unsuccessful, NPR's Carrie Johnson tells Up First.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Plus, Blue Origin is selling launches at a price per satellite that’s significantly better than SpaceX, a former employee told Forbes.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

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Thesaurus Entries Near enjoin

Cite this Entry

“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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