as in controlled
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in ruled
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
2
as in regulated
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 operated
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 governed
Sean Nathaniel, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
But unless each step is governed by clear identity controls, the company might not know exactly what authority is delegated and how to intervene when there’s a problem.
—Dan Mountstephen, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Life is governed by the seasons, and by the changing, often very harsh, weather.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Taiwan has been governed separately from China since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.
—Huizhong Wu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Because Fidesz has governed for 16 years, a generation of Hungarians have grown up knowing little but life under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Such banks were to be governed by the usury laws, or lack thereof, of their states of incorporation.
—George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
Taiwan has been governed separately from China since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.
—Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
It is governed by peer review processes that demand accuracy, transparency and accountability.
—Carla Cox, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
But done intelligently, archiving ensures that all data, whether active or dormant, remains accessible, governed and usable.
—Sean Nathaniel, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Enterprise trust is built through contracts, controls, and processes – through proof that the system is governed, not proof that the model is clever.
—Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
But unless each step is governed by clear identity controls, the company might not know exactly what authority is delegated and how to intervene when there’s a problem.
—Dan Mountstephen, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2026
Life is governed by the seasons, and by the changing, often very harsh, weather.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Taiwan has been governed separately from China since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.
—Huizhong Wu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Because Fidesz has governed for 16 years, a generation of Hungarians have grown up knowing little but life under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2026
Such banks were to be governed by the usury laws, or lack thereof, of their states of incorporation.
—George Liebmann, Baltimore Sun, 11 Apr. 2026
Taiwan has been governed separately from China since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.
—Huizhong Wu, Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
It is governed by peer review processes that demand accuracy, transparency and accountability.
—Carla Cox, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for governed
Adjective
-
Too bad the script feels less controlled and more directionless when each of these characters go head to head with an increasing body count across several bloody incidents.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Once the legs are free, slow and controlled motions can help a person gradually reach firmer ground.—
Outside,
Outside,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Twelve courts have ruled, on motions to dismiss, that plaintiffs have sufficiently pleaded that these companies’ products constitute credit and that their accompanying fees are subject to the act’s protections.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Past dressers like Angela Kelly also ruled over visuals with an iron fist.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike adult incontinence products, baby diapers are not regulated as medical devices under the Federal Drug Administration.—
Kate Sequeira,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
However, Unison’s home equity agreement functions more like a consumer loan or mortgage and should be regulated as such, the attorneys argue.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Zelenskyy didn't identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defense systems.—
Brian Dakss,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Reporting from Colorado News 9 in 2025 uncovered that Flock Safety had operated a pilot program that allowed federal agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection, to send invites to local law enforcement agencies.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
According to prosecutors, Dunlap claimed his art collection contained works by Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali, among other famous artists.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The study got its start when co-author Brian Gootee, a geologist with the Arizona Geological Survey, noticed a resemblance between sand deposits downstream of the Grand Canyon and in the Bidahochi—both contained pink, rounded grains that seemed to have been transported by the same river.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both institutions got their start much like Tunnel, when artists managed to nab inexpensive real estate decades ago.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In an era where heads are quickly turned by enticing name, image and likeness and revenue-sharing deals, Georgia managed to retain the most talent of any starting lineup in the Southeastern Conference in 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Tunnery was diagnosed with glioblastoma and treated her pain with opioids that brought on severe side effects, curbed her appetite and led to a severe physical decline, Cronin and Watson said.—
Clark Corbin,
Idaho Statesman,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Early changes curbed the power of the judiciary, weakened independent watchdogs, and rewrote election rules to favor the ruling party.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most crew members interviewed by police, defense attorneys or USA TODAY said the boys were always supervised on set.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Last week, a Utah judge ruled that Paul can have supervised visits with Ever, until another hearing for a protective order later this month.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Governed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governed. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
