1
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
The Supreme Court has ruled that Cook can remain on the Fed's governing board, for now.
—
Scott Horsley, NPR, 11 Jan. 2026
Israel has rejected any involvement of Hamas, which ran Gaza before the war, but has also opposed rule by the PA, the body set up under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago that has limited governing power in the West Bank.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Most of the governing elite—lawyers, judges, officials, and experts—view the giant legal machinery as a state of nature.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 22, if passed, would require the state board of funeral and cemetery service to adopt rules governing the operation of alkaline hydrolysis facilities.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Scott Horsley, NPR, 11 Jan. 2026
Israel has rejected any involvement of Hamas, which ran Gaza before the war, but has also opposed rule by the PA, the body set up under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago that has limited governing power in the West Bank.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Most of the governing elite—lawyers, judges, officials, and experts—view the giant legal machinery as a state of nature.
—Philip K. Howard, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2026
Senate Bill 22, if passed, would require the state board of funeral and cemetery service to adopt rules governing the operation of alkaline hydrolysis facilities.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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The game officials ruled that Gobert impeded Wembanyama's ability to safely land on the follow-through from his jump shot, giving him six flagrant foul points for the season.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Lane Johnson’s absence Eagles All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson was ruled inactive prior to the game after trying to give it a go at practice this week.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The court’s eventual ruling could have broad implications for how schools nationwide regulate transgender participation in athletics.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Jan. 2026
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Additionally, sprouted whole-grain bread is significantly higher in blood-pressure-regulating minerals such as magnesium than bread made with refined white flour.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the past, American capitalism, despite its many faults, had managed to develop a safety net that compensated a little for its exploitations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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Ownership also involves financial responsibility, with car insurance playing a role in how people manage and protect their assets.—
Ethan M. Stone,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The state Department of Education controls public education, under the leadership of the governor and the Legislature.—
SHELLEY SMITH SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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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.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mansfield Park contains a slow burning love story with Fanny’s cousin Edmund and delicious subplots concerning two charming, selfish siblings, but of chief interest are Fanny’s two aunts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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This single optical component contains many tiny lenses on one surface.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Consumers quickly turned to social media and OPS for answers after learning that diesel fuel was mixed with regular unleaded gasoline and distributed to gas stations operated by Costco, Murphy Express and King Soopers.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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These include opening a sliding door, operating a toilet seat, ironing clothes, and brushing a human’s hair.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The coils on the back of the refrigerator should be brushed or vacuumed to keep dust buildup from affecting its performance.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
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Comfort classics like the Hoka Women’s Bondi 9s and New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi V4s will keep your feet cushioned, supported, and pain-free on long travel days.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Officials said Bovino, who has overseen several controversial immigration operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and New Orleans, said he is expected to lead enforcement efforts in Minnesota as well.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Andreas Wiseman, Executive Editor of International and Strategy, and Anthony D’Alessandro, Editorial Director, along with Justin Kroll, Deadline’s Film Editor, will continue in their roles overseeing the news site’s prominent film coverage.—
The Deadline Team,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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