enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin How to pronounce enjoin (audio)
Definition of enjoinnext
1
as in to demand
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority police enjoined the community's full cooperation in getting rid of the drug dealers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to instruct
to issue orders to (someone) by right of authority undeterred, the captain enjoined his crew to sail at full speed into the mine-filled harbor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to prohibit
to order not to do or use or to be done or used Quakerism enjoins the taking of human life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 enjoin Boasberg on Saturday issued two orders enjoining Trump from deporting aliens detained in immigration proceedings who are allegedly associated with the TdA, which the U.S. has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. —Dan Mangan,kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2025 The terms of a similar order were enjoined as unconstitutional earlier this week by a federal district court judge. —Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2025 Consequently, the court enjoined the federal government from implementing or enforcing the executive order. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 As of this writing, key portions have been enjoined by a federal court. —Jamie Dolkas, Harvard Business Review, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enjoin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin
  1. demand
  2. instruct
  3. prohibit
  4. require
  5. order
  6. forbid
  7. request
  8. tell
Verb
  • In one letter, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee demanded a list of every citizen detained during the new administration.
    — Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The fairway bunkers are positioned to demand accuracy off the tee.
    — Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of demand
Verb
  • The agencies also instruct organizations to store copies of sensitive or crucial information on physically separate and secure locations, such as hard drives or other storage devices, should recovery become necessary in the wake of an attack.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Harris said Tin disagreed with the sentence and has instructed him to file a notice of appeal.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of instruct
Verb
  • Louisiana’s legislation might also violate the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits laws that retroactively increase the severity of a person’s criminal sentence, according to several legal scholars.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Among the changes is a proposal to prohibit universities from doing polling on federal, state or local candidates.
    — Ana Ceballos, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of prohibit
Verb
  • The premise requires both actors not just to showcase a fiery vulnerability, but to stew in these feelings for extended periods, which benefits from Nabulsi’s straightforward, no-frills presentation.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • That case, in federal court in New Jersey, seeks an order that would require Khalil's release and the rescinding of the Rubio determination.
    — Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of require
Verb
  • The Duke and Duchess of Windsor ordered pieces that were full of personality and wit.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The shift comes after reports that the cuts were ordered by Jeremy Lewin, a close ally of Elon Musk, who now oversees USAID under Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of order
Verb
  • When his boss, the Archbishop of Vienna, forbade the wicked play The Marriage of Figaro to be composed as an opera, Mozart composed the comic opera anyway.
    — Chip Bell, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The show is set in 15th century Europe at a time of inquisition, a time when heretics are burned at the stake and it is essentially forbidden to look at the stars.
    — Rafael Motamayor, IndieWire, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of forbid
Verb
  • After requesting and being granted his release from the Professional Fighters League, Pitbull signed with the UFC and has landed a major fight on one of the year’s biggest cards.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Anyone will information on the incident is requested to contact the Anchorage Police Department at 311 or 907-786-8900.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of request
Verb
  • One of the women surrendered her wedding ring, worth an estimated $7,000, and the robber told the victims to leave the area.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Dotel was rescued from the rubble, officials told the outlet, but he was later mourned by the ministry.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of tell

Browse Nearby Words

enigmatic
enjoin
enjoined
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“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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