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 Still, Alex Bores, a computer scientist and New York Assembly member prominent in the state’s legislative debate over AI, which culminated in a comprehensive bill governing the technology, said AI is a natural field to regulate. —

Darius Tahir, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2026 Mandelson is considered an elder statesman of the governing Labour Party in the UK and has denied any criminal wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein. —

Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026 Many younger progressive candidates already serving in local offices — such as Yasmeen Bankole, Hanover Park trustee and a progressive candidate running for Congress in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District — spoke thoughtfully about public service and the responsibilities of governing. —

The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026 Both films tackle how government institutions, in Russia and Florida, respectively, fail in governing and protecting their citizens. —

Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026 When Mayor Mamdani released his preliminary budget last week, the public got to see what governing with prose looks like. —

Paul Francis, New York Daily News, 22 Feb. 2026 Netanyahu has been engaged in a three-year effort, even during the war in Gaza, to carry out a judicial coup that would all but eliminate the separation of powers in Israel — one that enables its Supreme Court to check the excesses of the governing political party. —

Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026 Kate appeared in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union, the national governing body for grassroots and elite rugby in England. —

ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026 Fidesz has not released a program, arguing that after governing for 16 years, its voters know what kinds of policies to expect. —

Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governing

Verb

Legal scholar Bradley, whose work was actually cited in the dissent, said the majority opinion got it right in ruling the IEEPA statute did not give presidential authority to implement tariffs without congressional approval.

— Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2026
Bondi, however, appeared confused about which case the court was ruling on this week.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026