RULES, Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rules 1 of 2

noun

plural of rule

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

as in governments

lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the years during which Russia was under Communist rule

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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

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rules

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule

as in governs

to exercise authority or power over a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly

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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

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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

Noun

The assembly may interpret the rules to exclude reformist clerics who favor greater social freedoms and engagement with the outside world. —

Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 1 Mar. 2026 Some users have voiced anger at how the situation was handled, claiming that either Kalshi’s rules should have been communicated more clearly, or that its markets should have been more narrowly worded to avoid confusion. —

Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 1 Mar. 2026 Know the rules about bringing food and drinks onboard. —

Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026 Shamet and Bridges have been close ever since, and while Bridges won’t toot his own horn on offense, Shamet abides by a different set of rules. —

Kristian Winfield, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026 That started with more rules and safety measures. —

Luke Burbank, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026 Antetokounmpo has not violated any of the NBA’s rules, as his shares in Kalshi are reportedly less than 1% of the platform’s value, in keeping with the league’s policies. —

Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026 The bigger goal is to establish clearer design rules for integrating 2D materials into next-generation processors. —

Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Mar. 2026 Well while the rules may vary, mahjong has always been a community gathering game. —

Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026

Verb

Party rules required candidates to receive 20-30% of the vote in a congressional or legislative district and statewide in order to qualify for delegates. —

Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026 The will of the people is what rules our land, bound by the limits of the Constitution. —

Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026 He is kept well away from current Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s family cats, JoJo and Prince, who inhabit the private family quarters while Larry rules the working areas of Downing Street. —

Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026 These characteristics reflect themes covered by the Ninth House of Adventure and Higher Learning, which Sagittarius rules. —

Maressa Brown, InStyle, 15 Feb. 2026 But even in California, dairy milk still rules the roost, and every year for nearly 70 years, the California Milk Advisory Board has crowned its California Dairy Princess as its dairy ambassador. —

Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026 Importantly, the First Proof rules disallow human mathematical input or prodding. —

Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 14 Feb. 2026 Lacrosse still rules in their home. —

Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2026 For people that are not tracking what that actually means, that means that ICE can do almost no arrests in the entire country … If a court rules that there’s a final order of removal, they’re removed actually by an administrative warrant, not a judicial warrant. —

Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules

Noun

If these scenes feel a bit didactic, hammering home everything from the shortage of nurses with SANE training to the dozens of regulations SANEs must follow to protect evidence, their lessons serve as a corrective for many of us who’ve absorbed decades’ worth of rape-as-entertainment.

— Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
Current laws and regulations do not properly account for advancements in AI, the company also said.

— Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026