injunction

A court order requiring someone to do something or stop doing something.

• The judge issued an injunction.
• They obtained an injunction against further building work.
• Ignoring the court’s injunction could lead to a fine.

How to use it: injunction against someone/something (The company obtained an injunction against the sale.); injunction to do something (They sought an injunction to stop construction.)

Similar words: court order

Common phrases: court injunction, temporary injunction, injunction against someone

A firm instruction telling someone to do something or to avoid doing it.

• He ignored the injunction to remain silent.
• The teacher’s injunction against cheating was clear.
• These moral injunctions shaped her early life.

How to use it: injunction to do something (She remembered her father’s injunction to speak honestly.); injunction against something/doing something (Their leader repeated the injunction against wasting food.)

Similar words: order, command, instruction

Common phrases: moral injunction, injunction to someone, injunction against something

The act of telling someone firmly what they must or must not do.

• The ruler used injunction to demand obedience.
• His exercise of injunction left little room for discussion.
• Injunction, rather than persuasion, was her usual way of securing cooperation.

Similar words: commanding, directing

Common phrases: injunction of obedience, act of injunction