GOVERN Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

govern

verb

ˈgə-vərn

Definition of govern

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 govern In my view, the root cause is corporate power—the way modern corporations are owned, governed, and permitted to organize markets and politics to their own advantage—and how relentlessly that power has concentrated over the past 50 years. — Christopher Marquis, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 What isn’t decided yet is whether AI agents get bolted onto old systems as an afterthought or built in from day one with the same discipline organizations already apply to hiring, managing and governing people. — Ryan Austin, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 In November 2025, a review was ordered into the ethical guidelines governing how Norges Bank invests, following controversy over divestments from some Israeli and American firms. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026 While Boise officials decide zoning and land use, ACHD governs local streets, and the Idaho Transportation Department controls State Street itself, legally a portion of State Highway 44. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for govern

Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern

Verb

Prosecutors can seek the death penalty in the case of a Miami-Dade man accused of having a witness killed for cooperating with the government, an appeals court has ruled.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
The court ruled that the department lacked authority to collect state voter files, compare them with federal citizenship databases and use those comparisons to press states to remove voters deemed potentially ineligible.

— Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rule

Verb

These tiny architects of the deep sea actively regulate microbial populations.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
Leaning into many voters’ skepticism of artificial intelligence and data centers, Biss has also put forward a multipart plan to regulate the industry.

— Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulate

Verb

For younger consumers who have always managed much of their lives through apps, these experiences often feel like different versions of the same activity.

— Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Separate nozzles also don't solve the problems of bonding incompatible materials or managing different printing temperatures.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of manage

Verb

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Virginia did a good job controlling SMU for long stretches, but a few big plays negated all that.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Verb

This post contains spoilers for The Diplomat Season 4, now streaming on Netflix.

— Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
The researchers started by making a single, long protein that contained the protease, the sequence it was designed to target, and a fluorescent protein.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of contain

Verb

The integration could help American troops operate uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) when adversaries attempt to disrupt battlefield communications.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
The team’s last-second win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was organized and operated by the NFL, part of the league’s more standard rotation of all teams playing overseas.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of operate

Verb

Investors are keeping a close eye on the outlook of interest rates, after New York Federal Reserve President John Williams' recent comments put him at odds with the broader market and some other central bank members.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Tajdar Amrohi says that by the time the film was ready for release, his father didn’t have a penny to keep for himself and was deep in debt.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of keep

Verb

The list of senior executives did not answer the question of who would oversee the old Paramount and Warner Bros.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Florida has the nation’s busiest death chamber DeSantis, who leaves office in January, oversaw 19 executions in 2025, more than any other Florida governor in a single year since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.

— David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of oversee

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gourmets

govern

governable

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Style

“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of govern

verb

Example Sentences

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