Synonyms of governs

governs

verb

present tense third-person singular of govern

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rules
• dominates
• dictates
• controls
• manages
• commands
• administers
• oversees
• sways
• regulates
• presides (over)
• bosses
• leads
• domineers
• captains
• supervises
• conducts
• directs
• oppresses
• masters
• micromanages
• conquers
• superintends
• reigns (over)
• heads
• subdues
• subjugates
• tyrannizes
• lords (it over)

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• regulates
• contains
• controls
• keeps
• curbs
• restrains
• suppresses
• inhibits
• stifles
• constrains
• tames
• measures
• rules
• holds
• checks
• reins (in)
• stops
• pulls in
• represses
• bridles
• interrupts
• impedes
• hinders
• swallows
• smothers
• obstructs
• strangles
• muffles
• chokes (back)
• holds back
• blocks
• hampers
• bottles (up)
• arrests
• pockets
• squelches
• silences
• minces
• sinks
• handcuffs
• muzzles
• gags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loses
• liberates
• loosens
• expresses
• unleashes
• looses
• takes out
• airs
• vents

3

as in operates

to look after and make decisions about

the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operates
• regulates
• supervises
• oversees
• manages
• controls
• conducts
• handles
• runs
• directs
• administers
• tends
• keeps
• protects
• guides
• administrates
• overlooks
• superintends
• presides (over)
• watches over
• carries on
• leads
• steers
• stewards
• watches
• minds
• cares (for)
• safeguards
• pilots
• guards
• micromanages
• stage-manages
• codirects
• comanages

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of governs

New regulation governs millions of yards California’s Board of Forestry will ban plants within one foot of homes and most combustibles within five feet for millions in high fire-risk communities. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

This same disinhibition increasingly governs how war itself is waged. — Mark Leonard, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Programmatic infrastructure has extended into digital out-of-home, meaning the same logic that governs a real-time media buy online could govern what a screen says in a pharmacy. — Kamya Elawadhi, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal privacy law that governs health information and is commonly known as HIPAA, is narrower than its reputation suggests. — Jennifer D. Oliva, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

Now, as someone who governs less radically than feared and is on the cusp of becoming Italy’s longest-serving postwar leader, Meloni often wears pastel-colored suits with wide-legged trousers that cover her high heels. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026

District 60 General Counsel Kathryn Vander Broek said at the meeting the state school code governs the procedure for dealing with educational support personnel when there are staff reductions. — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

The court order says that Texas law governs the child's parentage, the child's protection, and medical decision-making for the child. — Briseida Holguin, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

In the City of Milwaukee, private parking lot operators need licenses and are regulated under Milwaukee city ordinance 84-20, which governs parking fees and the type of signage parking lots are required to have. — Isabella Russomanno, jsonline.com, 11 Aug. 2026