If it is not absolutely necessary to enact a law, it is absolutely necessary to not adopt a law.
Source: tatoeba (5804073)
Enact
/ɪˈnækt/
Synonyms for "enact" (243 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (49)
accomplishachieveactact a partact asact outaffectapeattainauthorizebetokenbrandishbreathebring aboutbring forthbring forwardbring into viewbring outbring to noticecarry through
Show 7 more words
Verb(6 words)
Noun(10 words)
act prep programadoptingbinding instrumentbudget cutcallathumpcarry outcatalanizingcodified written historyconduct of a ceremonyconscripting
Adjective(6 words)
ceremonial covenantcivil order lawscivil progress plancivil progress policiescommunal decision making policycommunal decision making practice
Strong matches (73)
Verb(19 words)
decreeddramatizeseffectingeffectuatedeffectuateseffectuatingenforce civil order guidelinesestablish a clubestablish a factestablish a linkestablish a policyexecuteexecute an orderimplementimplement changeimplement sign systemimplement softwareimplementedinstituted
Noun(6 words)
Related words (121)
Verb(16 words)
interpretsinvokelegislatelegislatedlegislatesordainordainspasspass lawsperformedplayactedportrayingreenactrestore order protocolsolemnisestandardize procedures
Noun(19 words)
jhvhmandatingmost policy moveoffice quietpassesperform energeticallyperformingpolicy change implementationpolicy moveportray variableprocess reformpromulgatingritual practicerole playset beliefssophocles playsstate descriptor valuestate legislature processto physicalize
killknock offlegalizelegislatelegitimatelegitimatizelegitimizelobbylobby throughlogrollmakemake a regulationmake a show ofmake clearmake legalmake plainmanagemanifestmasquerademasquerade as
Show 64 more words
materializemeanmimemimicordainorderpantomimeparadepasspass forperformpersonatepigeonholeplayplay a partplay a roleplay oppositeplayactpocketpolish offportraypose asprescribepresentpretend to beproclaimproduceput awayput in forceput throughrailroadrailroad throughratifyrealizeregulaterepresentrevealroll logsroll outrulesanctionset forthshowshow forthspotlightsucceedsupportsustain a parttabletake a parttake care oftake offtake the floortokentransacttrot outturn the trickunfoldvalidatevetowaveworkwork outyield the floor
Adjective(2 words)
legal measureoperational target
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accomplish, achieve, act, act a part, act as.
- Sentence evidence is available for enact, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, wordnet, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "enact".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "enact"
Keep "enact" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "enact" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "enact", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "enact" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesenactment of lawsenactment processlawmaking actpolicy enactmentregulatory enactmentstatute enactment
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
7 total sentences available.
Congress failed to enact any useful legislation during the entire session.
Source: tatoeba (7746216)
The World Health Organization is urging countries affected by the coronavirus to enact containment measures as the best way to slow down the spread of this deadly disease.
Source: tatoeba (8590671)
In the long run, the report calls on Congress to enact a comprehensive Missouri River protection act.
Source: tatoeba (12385548)
Showing 4 of 7 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "enact"?
Closest matches include accomplish, achieve, act, act a part, act as.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "enact"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.