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 Only one section of the president’s executive order on this care is currently enjoined. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026 Some of the restrictions enjoined by the decision have been on the books since 1997. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Her lush videos lure and enjoin viewers to try their hand at her style of vegan cooking. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 29 July 2026 If the court agrees, Minnesota could be enjoined from enforcing the law against any nudification app. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enjoin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enjoin

Verb

As Haitians on both sides of the island took sides, Dominican authorities demanded an apology, nationalists denounced the statement as an affront to Dominican sovereignty, and Haiti’s foreign ministry distanced the government from it.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
The Barcelona turmoil late on Monday followed protests across the country over the weekend that demanded measures to resolve a crisis sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, the country's capital.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of demand

Verb

Intelligence without effective boundaries can pursue an objective exactly as instructed while producing consequences nobody intended.

— Babajide Ojuola, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
An aluminum plant near the laboratory instructed staff to wear masks as a precautionary measure.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of instruct

Verb

Going forward, the audit asks the Legislature to amend state law to provide clear instruction that prohibits state workers from regularly teleworking outside of California.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Dyed diesel is not available at most ordinary gas stations or truck stops, and it is normally prohibited for highway use.

— Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of prohibit

Verb

The city’s postcard sights and destination-worthy dining spots require at least a 20-minute taxi drive or a hop on The Siam’s boat, which can drop you off at most piers along the river.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Twenty-three states have no rating from the big agencies at all, which locks them out of mandates that require one.

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of require

Verb

Four years ago, Tennessee's governor ordered another independent review into capital punishment after abruptly stopping the April 2022 execution of Oscar Smith.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
The pool was reportedly ordered to remain closed until further inspection, according to the complaint.

— Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of order

Verb

Republicans were able to win a court case forbidding the votes of overseas citizens who have never lived in North Carolina from being counted there, but have not yet succeeded in lawsuits in other states, including swing state Michigan.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
This coalition aimed to amend the state constitution to forbid any government entity from adopting or enforcing laws that prohibited discrimination against gay, lesbian or bisexual people.

— Mark Satta, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of forbid

Verb

No payment is requested or exchanged at any point during the selection, evaluation or ranking process; inclusion is based solely on the methodology.

— Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Others, like Ashra, are requested in advance for Shirodhara therapy, while many guests book Bernie for acupuncture and cupping.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of request

Verb

Serena tells him his former boss Elliott Wyatt recommended him highly, which is strange given his former reticence.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
After the election, legislating is an obvious place to go, given the public and many lawmakers in both parties want to see something done, the tech industry source told Semafor.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of tell

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enigmatic

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enjoined

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“Enjoin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enjoin. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of enjoin

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