Synonyms for impose
Most common
Definitions
- v. 1
To apply, enforce, or establish (something, often regarded as burdensome as a restriction or tax: see verb sense 1.2.2) with authority.
Congress imposed new tariffs.
- v. 2
To place or put (something chiefly immaterial, especially something regarded as burdensome as a duty, an encumbrance, a penalty, etc.) on another thing or on someone; to inflict, to repose; also, to place or put (on someone a chiefly immaterial thing, especially something regarded as burdensome).
Social relations impose courtesy.
Related words
- Word family
- imposing imposure imposition impost
- Other spellings
- empose
Forms
- Past participle
- imposed
e.g. imposed → enforced, constrained, forced, inflicted…
Example sentences
- enforce The government must enforce the law immediately.
- constrain What human trespass would constrain thy power, O Zeus?
- inflict Was it necessary to inflict such a punishment on him?
- lay I'm going to lay aside that money for emergencies.
- levy Gideon Levy says that Israel is not a democracy.
By length
- 3 letters
- put1, set1, lay1
- 4 letters
- levy2
- 5 letters
- place1, force1, visit2, foist1
- 6 letters
- charge1, assess2, enjoin2, charre
- 7 letters
- subject2, enforce2, appoint2, inflict2
- 9 letters
- prescribe2, constrain2
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (levy2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- imposer
- Italiano
- imporre
- Español
- imponer
- Deutsch
- auferlegen
- Català
- imposar