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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Now, the Broward Teachers Union is filing a grievance, which in part challenges whether the meeting violated the state’s Sunshine Law that governs open meetings, President Anna Fusco told the Sun Sentinel. —

Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026 Moore governs one of the bluest states in the country. —

Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026 In Norway’s northernmost reaches, where winter lingers for months beneath a veil of polar darkness and the sea governs every decision, lies Båtsfjord, a fishing village where cod assumes greater significance than God. —

Matthew Carey, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2026 These are the contests that will decide who governs — and how — in Texas after 2026. —

Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 16 Feb. 2026 Responsible leadership listens early, adjusts quickly, and governs with discipline. —

Darius Jones, New York Daily News, 15 Feb. 2026 That affiliation reflects the electoral system, not how a judge governs on the bench. —

Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026 Perhaps some enterprising Democrat or Republican will come along who exhibits more faith in our constitutional system, governs with the foresight that there are more elections to come than just the next one — and reaps the benefits. —

David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026 Carr’s action restores competitive neutrality by allowing Verizon to follow the Consumer Code for Wireless Service, the voluntary industry standard adopted in 2013 that governs unlocking transparency, timing and military protections. —

Roslyn Layton, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governs

Verb

The will of the people is what rules our land, bound by the limits of the Constitution.

— Julian Baron, Baltimore Sun, 16 Feb. 2026
He is kept well away from current Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s family cats, JoJo and Prince, who inhabit the private family quarters while Larry rules the working areas of Downing Street.

— Jill Lawless, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026