1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
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
3
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
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Recent Examples of govern
Last session, the Legislature attempted to bypass voter approval by passing House Bill 2783, which would have altered the makeup of the governing body by allowing board members to be removed at will by their appointing authority and sought to limit them to a seven-year term.
—
Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 6 Mar. 2026
Friday Sundance Institute’s Oscar Celebration Brunch The independent film festival’s governing board will host a casual brunch honoring actors, directors, and producers who have shown films at the Park City festival.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, though, the rules that govern this furry fiefdom defy easy comprehension.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
It should be governed and guarded like a public utility to ensure that it can’t be exploited.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Emma Murphy, Oklahoma Voice, 6 Mar. 2026
Friday Sundance Institute’s Oscar Celebration Brunch The independent film festival’s governing board will host a casual brunch honoring actors, directors, and producers who have shown films at the Park City festival.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere, though, the rules that govern this furry fiefdom defy easy comprehension.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
It should be governed and guarded like a public utility to ensure that it can’t be exploited.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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The ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has won three consecutive elections to stay in power since 2016, is at the forefront of efforts to accelerate the severance of its nation’s Chinese connection.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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The judge ruled the case wouldn’t be heard until there was an administrative ruling on whether the child, identified in the suit as EE, qualified for the NICA program.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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My go-to travel day outfit always includes an oversized shirt, and this linen option is an amazing temperature-regulating style to wear as temperatures begin to rise.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Many studies suggest that eating breakfast earlier may help regulate blood sugar.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers are managing a slew of injuries and are managing the workloads of several players down the stretch.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
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The former is focused on advancing noninvasive approaches to treating diabetes and managing metabolic health.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Republicans, who control half of the Minnesota House, pointed out that DHS failed to detect fraud for years.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
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Inside the cabin, the Ti3 integrates electronically controlled seating systems designed for ergonomic customization.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Oncor Electric is requesting that the Fort Worth City Council approve the rezoning of a southeast Fort Worth lot containing a power substation that the utility company intends to expand and renovate, documents say.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
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The religious article, called a kirpan, cannot be longer than 10 inches and must be contained in a sheath to wear in City Hall, according to the ordinance.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In a letter to Newsom in June, commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the main factors driving refinery closures were falling demand for gasoline, increasing competition from global consolidation, aging infrastructure requiring significant maintenance, and a high cost of operating.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
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The armature around the scenes—cameras and mikes and props, along with the people who operate and manage them—adds to the austere, theatrical atmosphere.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Sporting didn’t want to be chasing the ball for long stretches, and the players didn’t manage to keep possession often enough.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
8 Mar. 2026
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Gosling begins singing about the pale blue dot and his new movie — but the camera keeps panning away, selecting Harry!—
Andy Hoglund,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war's opening airstrikes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Board chair Ward recused himself in February from the candidate selection due to a potential conflict of interest — candidate Lesley Lavery is the co-chair of the dissertation committee overseeing Ward’s doctoral dissertation at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga.—
Imani Cruzen,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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