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

George Russell blamed the code governing the cars' electrical systems for his lack of pace at the Belgian Grand Prix before crashing out. — ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

The state law governing the interest payments process does not mention the statute of limitations as a reason to waive interest owed. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026

For all the uncertainty surrounding the future employment of the University of North Carolina’s football staff, the paperwork governing their departures is already in order. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2026

During the previous general election — which saw Starmer lead the governing Labour party to a landslide victory and end 14 years of Conservative rule — Burnham was serving as Mayor of Manchester. — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026

The conversation and the word itself, which gives the seventh and final episode its title, unlocks the Biblical underpinnings and the complexities governing many of the main characters. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2026

Don’t Give Agents Their Own Set Of Rules Most companies already have policies governing production access, sensitive data, financial systems, administrative privileges and other consequential actions. — Shashwat Sehgal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Among those requirements are rules governing campaign contribution limits, filing deadlines, public disclosures and fundraising windows. — Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The legislation would establish a federal framework for NIL payments, cap the amount universities can give directly to athletes, create rules for transfers, and establish other regulations governing college sports. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 29 Sep. 2026