1
as in regulations
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity
read the rules that are posted before you use the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in governments
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)
the years during which Russia was under Communist rule
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in traditions
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing
one of the sacred rules of that ancient society was respect for the elderly
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in governs
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in controls
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
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 rules
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Texas’ rules and regulations about housing and construction and summer camps immediately came under scrutiny by environmentalists and urban planners.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
For example, in late September 2008, the top headlines on Nixon’s website focused on robocall rules, lawsuits over mortgage fraud and consumer tips for students.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
What are ‘Dancing with the Stars’ lift rules?
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Image-making has the power to reshape the rules.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
If the jury rules that Amazon broke the law, the judge will decide how much Amazon will pay in damages.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
As for Prime, the question is if a court rules Amazon achieved this success partly in unlawful ways, does the fallout incite any reduction in customer trust.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
And, most importantly, Silicon Valley constitutes the beating heart of the dominant digital culture that effectively rules much of the world.
—Tyler Johnson, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Her lawyer says no and then a judge rules.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Each state sets its own vaccine rules for school and child care, so requirements can vary.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Through antitrust law, Pavia has thus far successfully challenged the application of NCAA eligibility rules to his eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Sabrina Carpenter rules the Billboard charts this week with her new album Man’s Best Friend.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Profit and sustainability rules (PSR), inevitably, were a frequent topic, but there were plenty of others, too, ranging from the intricacies of football accounting to the broader question of why NFL teams are routinely deemed more valuable than clubs from what is the world’s most popular sport.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Texas’ rules and regulations about housing and construction and summer camps immediately came under scrutiny by environmentalists and urban planners.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
For example, in late September 2008, the top headlines on Nixon’s website focused on robocall rules, lawsuits over mortgage fraud and consumer tips for students.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
What are ‘Dancing with the Stars’ lift rules?
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Image-making has the power to reshape the rules.
—Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Supreme Court majority followed that up yesterday by granting a longer-term stay that will keep Slaughter off the FTC at least until the court rules on the merits of the case.
—Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
If the jury rules that Amazon broke the law, the judge will decide how much Amazon will pay in damages.
—Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
As for Prime, the question is if a court rules Amazon achieved this success partly in unlawful ways, does the fallout incite any reduction in customer trust.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
And, most importantly, Silicon Valley constitutes the beating heart of the dominant digital culture that effectively rules much of the world.
—Tyler Johnson, Mercury News, 19 Sep. 2025
Her lawyer says no and then a judge rules.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
Each state sets its own vaccine rules for school and child care, so requirements can vary.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Through antitrust law, Pavia has thus far successfully challenged the application of NCAA eligibility rules to his eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Sabrina Carpenter rules the Billboard charts this week with her new album Man’s Best Friend.
—Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules
Noun
-
Airlines are taking their time unwinding the current consumer regulations.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Starting on Wednesday, Florida will see dozens of new laws or law alterations go into effect as the Sunshine State looks to address a number of issues ranging from crime and safety to land regulations and flood disclosures.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The research found that 59% of those posts espoused conspiracy theories about Jews, such as that Jewish people control governments, that Jews are satanic in nature, or that the Holocaust never occurred or misrepresentations of what happened during the Holocaust.—
Hadas Gold,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
To stop Google from mandating the new rules, F-Droid is urging governments to scrutinize the company and calling on users to press regulators to step in.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As has been the case for two decades, a multi-genre cultural blend focused on sing-along fun, driven by multi-platinum hits magnified through country music's century of traditions, will be highlighted.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
Nashville Tennessean,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Chocolate has roots in Indigenous traditions in Latin America.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Diversity was marketed as progress but sustained with the same toxic logic that governs writers’ rooms—the idea that only a few are allowed in, and they can be discarded the moment the optics shift.—
Rochée Jeffrey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
-
This dance of refusal and counter-refusal, called taarof, governs countless daily interactions in Persian culture.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Big, nasty and physical, Kalani Sitake’s bunch controls the ball on offense and gets it back quickly on defense.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
-
To It Flat Iron, which controls frizz and is gentle on all hair types, at just $30.—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary,
Glamour,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Department of Transportation (DOT) pledged to enforce existing laws.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The organization takes care of the back-end logistics, from payroll and setting tuition to lobbying state legislators and navigating local zoning laws, freeing educators to concentrate on their craft.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Glenn Hubbard, Greg Mankiw, Christina Romer, Cecilia Rouse, Jared Bernstein and Jason Furman, a group who served as top officials on the White House's council of economic advisers during Republican and Democrat administrations, also signed the brief.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The Washington Post reported administrations had often previously asked lawmakers for permission to move money toward the end of the fiscal year on September 30, but two unnamed congressional aides told the paper the request was far larger than normal.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pittman’s record since the start of the 2021 season (29-27) dictates the buyout total listed in his contract.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The email came despite the fact that Harris' term was not set to expire until 2028, and despite a federal law that dictates board members can only be fired for cause, such as inefficiency, malfeasance or neglect of duty.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share