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lay down the law
| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | demand |
| Synonyms: | adjure, appoint, authorize, ban, bar, beckon, bid, call, call for, call on, call the signals, call upon, charge, check, cite, compel, debar, dictate, direct, enact, enjoin, exact, forbid, force upon, give directions, give orders, grant, impose, inflict, inhibit, instruct, interdict, lay down the law, mark out, oblige, ordain, order, ordinate, proclaim, prohibit, put foot down, require, requisition, restrain, rule out, send for, set, subpoena, summon, take charge, take lead, task, tell, warn |
| Notes: | an order is being told to do something with no specific guidelines, a command is being told to do something in a specific way, and a directive is being told to do something and getting this information through channels |
| Antonyms: | contradict, countermand, oppose, recall, reverse, revoke |
| Main Entry: | dictate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | command; give instructions |
| Synonyms: | bid, bulldoze, call the play, call the shots, call the tune, charge, control, decree, direct, enjoin, govern, guide, impose, instruct, lay down, lay down the law, lead, manage, ordain, order, prescribe, pronounce, put foot down, read the riot act, regiment, rule, set, take the reins, walk heavy |
| Antonyms: | ask, implore, request |
| Main Entry: | dispose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | place, order; deal with |
| Synonyms: | actuate, adapt, adjust, arrange, array, bend, bias, call the tune, condition, determine, distribute, fix, govern, group, incline, induce, influence, lay down the law, lead, locate, make willing, marshal, methodize, motivate, move, organize, predispose, prepare, promote, prompt, put, put one's foot down, put to rights, range, rank, read the riot act, regulate, ride herd on, set, set in order, settle, shepherd, stand, sway, systematize, tailor, tempt |
| Notes: | predispose differs from dispose by implying that the frame of mind is created some time before it becomes obvious |
| Antonyms: | disarrange, disorder, displace, disturb, mismanage |
| Main Entry: | dominate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | govern, rule |
| Synonyms: | boss, call the shots, command, control, detract from, dictate, direct, domineer, eclipse, handle, have one's way, have upper hand, head, hold sway over, influence, keep under thumb, lay down the law, lead, lead by the nose, manage, monopolize, outshine, overbear, overrule, overshadow, play first fiddle, predominate, preponderate, prevail, prevail over, reign, rule the roost, run, run the show, sit on top of, subject, subjugate, superabound, sway, tyrannize |
| Antonyms: | follow, go along, submit, surrender, yield |
| Main Entry: | govern |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take control; rule |
| Synonyms: | administer, assume command, be in power, be in the driver's seat, call the shots, call the signals, captain*, carry out, command, conduct, control, dictate, direct, execute, exercise authority, guide, head, head up, hold dominion, hold office, hold sway, lay down the law, lead, manage, occupy throne, order, overrule, oversee, pilot, pull the strings, regulate, reign, render, run, serve the people, steer, superintend, supervise, sway, tyrannize, wear the crown |
| Antonyms: | agree, comply, obey, surrender, yield |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | impose |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | set, dictate |
| Synonyms: | appoint, burden, charge, command, compel, constrain, decree, demand, encroach, enforce, enjoin, establish, exact, fix, foist, force, force upon, horn in, inflict, infringe, institute, introduce, intrude, lade, lay, lay down, lay down the law, levy, move in on, oblige, obtrude, ordain, order, place, prescribe, presume, promulgate, put, put foot down, read riot act, require, saddle, take advantage, trespass, visit, wish, wreak, wreck |
| Main Entry: | inflict |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | impose something |
| Synonyms: | administer, apply, bring upon, command, deal out, deliver, dispense, exact, expose, extort, force, force upon, give, give it to, lay down the law, levy, mete out, require, stick it to, strike, subject, visit, wreak |
| Notes: | afflict is generally used with living beings; inflict is generally used with inanimate objects inflict takes 'on,' afflict takes 'with' |
| Main Entry: | insist |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | order and expect; claim |
| Synonyms: | assert, asseverate, aver, be firm, contend, demand, hold, importune, lay down the law, maintain, persist, press, reiterate, repeat, request, require, stand firm, swear, take a stand, urge, vow |
| Antonyms: | endure, forget, tolerate |
| Main Entry: | ordain |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | establish, install |
| Synonyms: | anoint, appoint, bless, call, commission, consecrate, constitute, deal, deal with, decree, delegate, destine, dictate, elect, enact, enjoin, fix, frock, impose, institute, invest, lay down the law, legislate, nominate, order, prescribe, pronounce, put foot down, rule, set, walk heavy, will |
| Antonyms: | cancel, disallow, retract, void |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
