Thesaurus results for RULER

ruler

noun

ˈrü-lər

Definition of ruler

as in monarch

one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ruler The Catholics in his government, from Supreme Court justices to Cabinet members to Vice President JD Vance, are acting as a rubber stamp for an imperious ruler, instead of imitations of Christ. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Other Eurasian emperors of the time also did not persecute occult practitioners as Ivan did in the lead-up to the second oprichnina, actions more in line with attitudes in early modern Christian Europe than those common among rulers of Asia. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 His death also encouraged Queen Victoria to leave the stone not to her son, the new Edward VII, but his wife Queen Alexandra, since the curse was thought to only affect male rulers. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026 Britannica Quiz The last Sur ruler, Adil Shah, lost the Bengal and Malwa regions during internal conflicts with Sher Shah’s nephews. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruler

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruler

Noun

When Britain's longest-serving monarch died just a few months later in September, the singer was among the stars around the world paying tribute.

— Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
According to People, the 77-year-old monarch hopes his younger son’s return will literally and figuratively bring him closer to Prince William.

— Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of monarch

Noun

The zaobanchu during Qianlong’s reign comprised nearly one thousand artisans, who worked out of fear to serve the demands of the insatiable emperor who would sometimes dole out severe punishments, like taking away a year’s salary.

— Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
In Italy, the worst drought in 70 years has exposed the piers of an ancient bridge over the Tiber River once used by Roman emperors but which fell into disrepair by the third century.

— CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of emperor

Noun

Agnatic primogeniture, directly inherited from the Salic Law, stipulates that in the event of death or abdication, the sovereign’s closest male relative is called upon to ascend the throne.

— Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026
Harry has repeatedly suggested that senior courtiers can exert significant influence over the sovereign.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of sovereign

Noun

First, Harry spoke of his desire for reconciliation, then there was the apparently successful meeting between the king, his younger son and daughter-in-law and their children last month at Charles’ Highgrove estate in western England.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
As a neo-New Wave guy with a heartland jones and drama-king chops, Flowers isn’t bad cosplaying his heroes, even if his brawny rock-opera vocal approach is a bit short on the conversational warmth that makes for truly memorable country singing.

— Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of king

Browse Nearby Words

rule out

ruler

rulers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Ruler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruler. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of ruler

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cogent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes