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

In uncertain environments, a single governing objective plus constraints felt simpler than genuine multi-objective balancing. — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

The lawsuit calls for Sigcho-López to be included on the ballot and for state law governing independent runs for office to be declared unconstitutional. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026

The climbdown by Infantino follows a threat by European countries, represented by the continent’s soccer governing body UEFA, to boycott all FIFA events, including the World Cup, if the plan moved forward. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026

While both candidates occupy the left side of the national political spectrum, their records illustrate two distinct governing philosophies that have frequently clashed in San Francisco Democratic politics. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

The proposal was emphatically rebuffed, with the Asian Football Confederation joining UEFA, European football’s governing body, and Concacaf, which represents North and Central America and the Caribbean, in rejecting it. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Battle lines are being drawn in international soccer this week, with many fans, executives and governing bodies up in arms about FIFA’s plan to sell a chunk of its commercial rights for upfront cash. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 31 July 2026

Professional surfer Arran Strong was presumed dead four days after going missing off the coast of Portugal in a tragic incident, the sports governing body in the UK confirmed. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026

Kappa Alpha Psi’s national governing documents explicitly prohibit hazing, and chapters have faced suspensions in prior cases, including a Miami University in Ohio chapter suspended through 2040 in 2025. — David Smiley, Miami Herald, 28 July 2026