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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 of enjoin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Europeans have enjoined Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, but have not made specific plans for enforcing it. Alexander J. Motyl, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2014 That's the only part of the law that X did not fight to enjoin on appeal. Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 5 Sep. 2024 The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals enjoined the program, and after further appeal, the Supreme Court overturned it. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024 Fubo overcame difficult odds in convincing Garnett to enjoin Venu Sports. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for enjoin 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enjoin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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