GOVERNS Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

governs

verb

present tense third-person singular of govern

as in rules

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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as in regulates

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 operates

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 governs Yet no such regulation governs the people in the stands at these matches — with Irish fans typically singing the folk song Fields of Athenry during the haka in response, while England supporters opt for their rugby anthem, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The Senate's farm bill, an omnibus piece of legislation rolled out every five years that governs everything from rural development and crop insurance to nutrition programs, has languished in committee during McConnell’s absence. — Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026 Reddington cited Rule 25 under the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, which Lu said governs motions like the one filed Thursday. — Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Dealers will have to update the software that governs the system to remedy the issue. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 9 Sep. 2026 The initiative asked people to change their behavior while every signal that governs behavior stayed pointed the old way. — Leslie Ellis, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026 That is a reference to an international treaty that governs the conduct of diplomats. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 Long-term resource potential Technical performance alone cannot justify a project; economic balance governs actual field deployment. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 The fight centers on the interpretation of the 2015 state Senate Bill 34, which governs ALPR use. — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governs

Verb

If the court rules in their favor, Kushner’s project may have to be halted.

— Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
Now, the federal court will hold off on further action until the appeals court rules on the case.

— Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

Despite the close parallels to placing a bet on the game in Las Vegas, prediction markets have fallen under the purview of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the same federal agency that regulates oil futures and credit default swaps.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
But at the moment, the CFTC — which regulates derivatives contracts — currently only has one, chairman Michael Selig.

— Davis Giangiulio,Justin Papp, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

Reportedly, this system operates through a two-way connection, linking real-time image recognition directly with surgical manipulation.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
SpaceX already operates its Starbase spaceport in rural Texas, as well as launchpads at government spaceports on the coasts of California and Florida.

— Elizabeth Howell, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

The bill, to its credit, contains a lot of admirable protections for athletes, most notably a 5 percent cap on agents’ commissions on NIL deals.

— Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Thanks to the single-floor layout of the tiny house, this has ample headroom to stand upright and contains a double bed and some storage.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of contains

Verb

In her current role, Second Assistant District Attorney, Sprague supervises all homicides that occur in Plymouth County as well as all firearm and narcotics cases, according to her profile.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
The quotation should identify who designs the hairline, administers local anesthesia, performs recipient incisions and supervises graft placement.

— Malana VanTyler, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

Before work begins, ask who owns those assets, who controls the accounts and what happens when the commercial relationship ends.

— Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
That’s partly thanks to US technology controls that limit Chinese companies’ access to advanced AI processors — essential for training increasingly complex AI models.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of controls

Verb

Last year, Florida trustees approved the hiring of Michigan president Santa Ono, but the board that oversees all of the state’s universities and colleges rejected him.

— Matt Baker, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
But the education department oversees the Commission for Independent Education, which licenses unaccredited, private schools like Carleen.

— Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of oversees

Verb

Would the Pistons exercise that right, if only to remove some of the pressure that keeps rising as that ominous October date nears?

— Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
This attempt by Israel to muzzle hope and stifle joy keeps repeating itself in all aspects of Palestinian life.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026