1
as in ruling
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 regulating
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 managing
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of governing
Brilliant, strong, visionary, a far different approach to governing as that nation’s first woman leader.
—
Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Despite these risks, the five-year plans governing the expensive and time-consuming cleanups at the sites often failed to account for damage posed by flooding from sea-level rise and more frequent storms and wildfire, the IG’s review found.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rules governing Indians’ work abroad have not been updated in decades, but a draft bill was introduced to the Indian parliament last year to address exploitation overseas.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Physicians are therefore expected to integrate rapidly evolving technologies into high-stakes decision-making without clear national standards governing responsibility, oversight or validation.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026
Four of the matches being played in Arlington were revealed in December by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
He is credited with helping to establish safety guidelines and governing bodies to make cheerleading less dangerous.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
The worldwide soccer governing body canceled hotel blocks in all 16 World Cup host cities, according to the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Williams, who oversees the drone program, said the department has implemented strict policies governing drone use and data collection.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Despite these risks, the five-year plans governing the expensive and time-consuming cleanups at the sites often failed to account for damage posed by flooding from sea-level rise and more frequent storms and wildfire, the IG’s review found.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Rules governing Indians’ work abroad have not been updated in decades, but a draft bill was introduced to the Indian parliament last year to address exploitation overseas.
—Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Physicians are therefore expected to integrate rapidly evolving technologies into high-stakes decision-making without clear national standards governing responsibility, oversight or validation.
—Sreedhar Potarazu, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026
Four of the matches being played in Arlington were revealed in December by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.
—Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
He is credited with helping to establish safety guidelines and governing bodies to make cheerleading less dangerous.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2026
The worldwide soccer governing body canceled hotel blocks in all 16 World Cup host cities, according to the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.
—Laura Fay, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Williams, who oversees the drone program, said the department has implemented strict policies governing drone use and data collection.
—Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for governing
Verb
-
Tobolowsky previously rejected motions from other Gateway elders, ruling that the suit was not a religious issue and could be handled in secular court.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Apr. 2026
-
And for as long as states have been ruling one another, there have been wars of independence.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, pointing to precedent on states regulating health care professionals.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Some 30 states now have laws regulating or banning the practice, according to Saint Louis University legal researchers.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cooking, handling special requests and managing busy environments still depend on people.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Wait times listed on the MyTSA mobile app may not be accurate because TSA isn’t actively managing its sites during the shutdown.—
John Raby,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But the website isn’t full of articles about how the earth is flat or how aliens are controlling our government.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Analyses show the experiment succeeded at expanding access and controlling costs without bankrupting health systems or pharmaceutical firms.—
Michael Rose,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Through a red chain-link curtain is a back room containing the likes of Screw, Al Goldstein’s erotic tabloid from the sixties and seventies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The Jupiter-esque planet known as TOI-5205 b is the first exoplanet of its kind with an atmosphere containing far fewer heavy elements than similarly sized objects, as well as its own red dwarf star.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The 2025 language about under-performing degree programs, which said that degree programs that don't meet enrollment quotas must get permission from the Commission to continue operating, was added to the state budget the day before the legislative session concluded.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
1 Apr. 2026
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Rarely has a president been surrounded by such an array of toadies and lickspittles, operating beyond their competence in an atmosphere of organizational chaos.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Amid the concern, earlier this month, House Democrats introduced a series of bills aimed at curbing ICE's involvement.—
Toby Meyjes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Rights groups in the North African kingdom have described the case as a political measure aimed at curbing freedoms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
He was recently confirmed as the assistant attorney general overseeing the new division at the department focused on prosecuting fraud.—
Michelle L. Price,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The judge, Honorable Michael McNally of Michigan’s 33rd District Court, posed the question while overseeing a case on Wednesday, March 25.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governing. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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