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

The changes are a softening of proposals Mahmood made last year which drew opposition from some in the governing Labour Party. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026

The changes are a softening of proposals Mahmood made last year that drew opposition from some in the governing Labor Party. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

The citizens of Chicago should demand that any person seeking the privilege to govern our city should demonstrate both the respect for the opinions of its residents, as well as a vision for reinvigorated methods of governing our city. — Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Some people donate online, and donations are used for amenities on the Drive, as agreed by the District’s governing board. — Deborah Green, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2026

Negotiations to build a governing coalition will likely need to take place. — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026

More than 20% of Israel's population is Arab, but Arab parties have rarely joined governing coalitions. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026

For instance, in 1970 the mathematician John Conway introduced the Game of Life, where an elementary set of rules governing the movement of pixels on a screen leads to remarkably rich ecosystems. — Noah Giansiracusa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026

If no candidate can assemble a governing coalition, Israel could head to another election, repeating the cycle of political instability that saw the country hold four national votes between April 2019 and March 2021. — Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026