GOVERNING Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

governing

verb

present participle of govern

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

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Relevance

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in managing

to look after and make decisions about the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

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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 governing The district denies the labor violations, and both sides have filed accusations against the other with the state labor governing body. —

Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 What many retirees and near-retirees don't realize, though, is that the rules governing debt collection shift considerably once retirement income enters the picture. —

Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026 Tisza is a member of the European People's Party, the mainstream, center-right political family with leaders governing 12 of the EU's 27 nations. —

Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 13 Apr. 2026 Some districts are focused on developing rules governing how students can use AI to do their schoolwork. —

Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026 As that role expands, the policy framework governing home care carries greater consequence. —

Jake Krilovich, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026 With 60% of the vote counted on Sunday, Magyar’s Tisza party had more than 52% support to 38% for Orbán’s governing Fidesz party, according to the Associated Press. —

Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2026 But people familiar with OpenAI’s governing documents said that it has been diluted to the point of meaninglessness. —

Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Curator argues for replacing—or at least displaying both—while The Boss, beholden to donors and a governing board, insists Old Art stays and New Art must go. —

Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governing

Verb

While there was broad cross-party support for increasing women’s representation, opposition parties warned that redrawing voting boundaries and expanding the size of Parliament could shift the political balance in favor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite Hungary becoming one of Europe’s top production hubs over the past half-decade, Káel has been widely criticized for his ties to the ruling Fidesz party and the end of his mandate comes as no surprise.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026