ENJOIN Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

enjoin

verb

in-ˈjȯin

Definition of enjoin

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

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

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 If the court agrees, Minnesota could be enjoined from enforcing the law against any nudification app. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 But Nexstar tried to do that after its merger with Tegna was enjoined in April — and is still stuck in limbo with no assurance of resolution anytime soon. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 July 2026 However, appellate courts have subsequently vacated the Illinois judge’s ruling and multiple rulings from judges in Portland seeking to enjoin the use of these weapons. — ProPublica, 10 June 2026 In 1895, the socialist Eugene Debs addressed a crowd of supporters gathered to cheer his release from jail for leading a national railroad strike that federal judges had enjoined. — Michael Kazin, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for enjoin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin

Verb

The Grammy winner claims Keren Urinov, who worked on her 2025 tour, demanded a 15-year employment contract.

— Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
What happened next changed the young United States, forcing people to question the line between law — which protected slavery — and justice, which demanded resistance to that law.

— Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

The next month, senior bank leaders and vice chairs were instructed by human resources not to enter positive feedback about Nallasivan’s performance in the evaluation system, according to the lawsuit.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Trump made the name change in an executive order signed on Thursday, which instructed the Secretary of the Interior to implement the change within the next 30 days.

— Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

South Korea has prohibited its nationals from traveling to Haiti since May 2024 because of the worsening security situation.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
The dangerous weather conditions — which included 20-knot winds and waves more than eight feet high — prohibited first responders from recovering five bodies that were also found on the vessel, officials said.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Verb

Matt Bevin has missed several court dates in the case and did not attend the May 29 hearing in person as required by the judge, appearing via Zoom instead.

— Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
Doing the math, that leaves two other units with residents who will have a say since allowing the foundation to take over the entire space would require changing the co-op’s bylaws, Richards said.

— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of require

Verb

Even though Vaughn's initial plea was not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and a mental status exam was ordered, no pretrial tests were done.

— Brett Barrouquere, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
In a similar format to Family Feud, TopClubTen gives you ten top answers, ordered by amount, recency, value, and so on.

— Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Sustained gunfire began past midnight at the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts a major military base, according to an AP witness who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
The group requested agreements among MPEA, arena operator Oak View Group, the Chicago Sky and the WNBA.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in the capital on Saturday.

— Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
Indrika Ratwatte, the acting assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told the Security Council that the Kenscoff attack forced more than 2,600 people to flee their homes, many for the second or third time.

— Evens Sanon, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of tell

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“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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