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

There’s been little movement on the key Democratic demand, an ethics component governing the president and his family, according to two Democratic aides. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Unlike its competitors, Hermès is a pre-haute-couture enterprise, founded before the rigid bureaucracy of French fashion was put into place, in the eighteen-sixties, with the establishment of a governing syndicate. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Guo’s performance had been approved in advance by the Wuhan authorities, but the lyric change was not, which may have violated regulations governing commercial performances, Chinese state media previously reported. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

It is now widely accepted that the policy could have contributed to the far-right’s rise by shielding it from the accountability that comes when parties hold office and face the reality of governing. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

In 2025, World Tennis, the sport’s world governing body, changed the rules, allowing it essentially everywhere. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

Different states offer various levels of asset protection, dynasty trust planning, governing law, trust administration and state income tax benefits, lawyers said. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

There already has been one case in which AfD won a state election but didn’t end up governing. — Geir Moulson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026

School district rules While California has some laws governing electric bicycles, school districts may have varying rules. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026