Synonyms of governing

governing

verb

present participle of govern

1

as in ruling

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

• ruling
• controlling
• dictating
• dominating
• managing
• commanding
• presiding (over)
• administering
• overseeing
• domineering
• regulating
• swaying
• captaining
• leading
• bossing
• supervising
• conducting
• directing
• superintending
• heading
• mastering
• oppressing
• micromanaging
• conquering
• reigning (over)
• subjugating
• tyrannizing
• subduing
• lording (it over)

2

as in regulating

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

• regulating
• controlling
• containing
• curbing
• keeping
• restraining
• measuring
• ruling
• suppressing
• stifling
• inhibiting
• constraining
• holding
• taming
• checking
• stopping
• pulling in
• bridling
• swallowing
• reining (in)
• interrupting
• repressing
• hindering
• holding back
• strangling
• smothering
• impeding
• blocking
• hampering
• choking (back)
• obstructing
• arresting
• bottling (up)
• silencing
• sinking
• squelching
• mincing
• muffling
• pocketing
• handcuffing
• muzzling
• gagging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing
• loosening
• liberating
• expressing
• taking out
• venting
• airing
• unleashing
• loosing

3

as in managing

to look after and make decisions about

the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• managing
• operating
• regulating
• overseeing
• supervising
• controlling
• handling
• conducting
• running
• administering
• keeping
• guiding
• directing
• protecting
• superintending
• tending
• administrating
• presiding (over)
• carrying on
• stewarding
• watching over
• overlooking
• steering
• leading
• watching
• safeguarding
• guarding
• piloting
• caring (for)
• minding
• micromanaging
• stage-managing
• codirecting
• comanaging

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of governing

To achieve this, the locus coeruleus continuously alternates between tonic activity—governing baseline arousal and alertness—and brief phasic bursts that focus attention on critical events. — Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

The petitioners — Anthony Hernandez, Mary Jo Adams Hermann and an anonymous parent — claim the Sacramento school violated Catholic canon law, the church’s system of laws governing its institutions and members. — Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Jeffries calls for an end to the GOP’s ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ governing approach. — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026

The detailed rules governing how these operations will actually work are still being developed. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2026

In Israel, a small but growing minority of citizens seek to improve their country’s security by upholding both the principles of democracy and Jewish directives governing the treatment of fellow humans. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026

The rules governing retirement accounts aren't the same as those that apply to wages or ordinary bank accounts, however. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

In their Supreme Court brief, the families' attorneys argue that the law violates basic First Amendment principles governing the separation of church and state. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Most governing documents also require unit owners to purchase homeowners’ insurance for such casualty losses. — Howard Dakoff, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026