1
as in sentence
a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard
the controversial ruling by the state's supreme court caused an uproar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority
the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in controlling
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
a monarch who is known for ruling her emotions with an iron hand
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of ruling
Josh Yohe, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
That ruling was reaffirmed in 2013.
—Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
But opponents saw the move as an attempt by López Obrador to strengthen the power of his ruling Morena party by overhauling the very judiciary that often blocked some of his policy proposals.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Callum Sutherland, Time, 12 Jan. 2026
The police chief ended up ruling that Guinane was unsuitable and denied the LTC application due to her husband.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
Crosby wasn’t pleased with the ruling.
—Adjective
Critics argue the measures target urban, educated, and affluent voters who may not support the ruling Fidesz party.
—Verb
Ömer Çelik, the spokesperson for Turkey’s ruling AK Party, said on Monday that the issue should be resolved internally.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
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Lesser sentence in similar case In the same courtroom Thursday, Casey Ruppe was sentenced to 60 days in jail in a case similar to Bellorin’s.—
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However, prosecutors argued for a longer sentence for the rapper in a letter to the judge obtained by The New York Times.—
Noun
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The actor-filmmaker, his wife Amal and their kids Alexander and Ella were recently granted citizenship in France, per a naturalization decree obtained by the French newspaper Journal officiel and viewed by PEOPLE.—
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The police reform decree has been in effect for more than six years, and there has been criticism and concern about the pace of implementation.—
Adjective
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The monthly stochastic oscillator remains in overbought territory ( > 80%), underscoring the strength of the prevailing bullish trend rather than signaling exhaustion.—
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As municipal pools became mixed-gender in the 1920s and ’30s, swimming naked no longer fit prevailing notions of decency.—
Verb
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Smith maintained many of the gifts cited by Cannon fell under exceptions to the disclosure rules, including those governing charity event tickets and gifts for birthdays or holidays.—
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Or at least the craziest until Malinin began doing on ice back flips during the 2024-25 season after the International Skating Union, the sport’s global governing body, lifted a ban on the stunt.—
Verb
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The farmers also pitched in with efforts of their own, including adjusting fertilizer methods, controlling soil erosion and increasing on-site water retention.—
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Other concerning behaviors may include constant messaging, controlling actions, name-calling, threats, or refusing to respect your boundaries.—
Noun
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Vandenberg intended to turn explosives into a tool of intimidation, and this verdict sends the message that attempts to substitute violence for expressing one’s opinion has no place in our communities and will be met with federal consequences.—
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Their verdicts shape borrowing costs and, in some cases, whether countries can raise capital for education, health, and infrastructure.—
Noun
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Trump’s edict was light on details — and the shares pared those losses in later trading — but the message was sent.—
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The Gospel of Matthew, McGowan said, recounts how King Herod – upon learning that a child born in Bethlehem was destined to one day take his throne – issued an edict for all male children in the city to be executed.—
Adjective
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After setting a new standard for the organization in 2025, general manager Dan Morgan, head coach Dave Canales and their respective staffs need to raise the bar even higher.—
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Daniel McFadin is a general assignment reporter who has been with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since October 2022.—
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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