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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of governs
Trump's peace deal, whatever its other merits or flaws, failed to address the fundamental question of who governs Gaza and how order will be maintained.
—
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The plan calls for the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, to take control of Gaza after making a number of reforms.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2025
Stoughton says, referring to the law that governs searches and seizures, which also protects against excessive force.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Their work paved the way for real world applications of quantum mechanics, which governs the way the world works at the smallest, subatomic scales and distances, said Jonathan Bagger, a particle physicist and CEO of the American Physical Society.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The plan also provides that Hamas, which currently governs Gaza, would not have any role in governing in the future.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
The Princess of Wales, 43, shared her well-wishes for England amid the final of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup over the weekend as patron of the Rugby Football Union, which governs the game in England.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Diversity was marketed as progress but sustained with the same toxic logic that governs writers’ rooms—the idea that only a few are allowed in, and they can be discarded the moment the optics shift.
—Rochée Jeffrey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
This dance of refusal and counter-refusal, called taarof, governs countless daily interactions in Persian culture.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
The plan calls for the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, to take control of Gaza after making a number of reforms.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2025
Stoughton says, referring to the law that governs searches and seizures, which also protects against excessive force.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
Their work paved the way for real world applications of quantum mechanics, which governs the way the world works at the smallest, subatomic scales and distances, said Jonathan Bagger, a particle physicist and CEO of the American Physical Society.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
The plan also provides that Hamas, which currently governs Gaza, would not have any role in governing in the future.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2025
The Princess of Wales, 43, shared her well-wishes for England amid the final of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup over the weekend as patron of the Rugby Football Union, which governs the game in England.
—Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Diversity was marketed as progress but sustained with the same toxic logic that governs writers’ rooms—the idea that only a few are allowed in, and they can be discarded the moment the optics shift.
—Rochée Jeffrey, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
This dance of refusal and counter-refusal, called taarof, governs countless daily interactions in Persian culture.
—ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for governs
Verb
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Indeed, election law experts say that for Democrats, a worst case-scenario could mean a loss of as many as 19 congressional seats if, as seems likely, the court rules against the existing understanding of the federal election law.—
Nina Totenberg,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
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Most major news brands decline Pentagon censorship rules A dozen or more major media companies, including conservative-leaning newsrooms, have refused to sign a pledge to only report officially approved news from the Pentagon.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Incidents were also reported at Kelowna International Airport and Victoria International Airport in British Columbia along with Windsor International Airport in Ontario, according to Transport Canada, which regulates airports in the country.—
Martin Goillandeau,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The ocean regulates our climate, supports global trade, and feeds communities.—
Olivier Wenden,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Today, Hamas operates without a coherent leadership, a reality its remaining figures seem unwilling to confront.—
Mohammed R. Mhawish,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Airports pick a side TSA owns and operates some of the video monitors at airports which have been added to try to expedite the screening process by displaying reminders and sometimes include DHS messages.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains some sugar, but fermentation reduces how much your body actually absorbs.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
18 Oct. 2025
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Bluey Medley This to-go pack contains sliced apples, cheddar, and pretzels, says House.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sebastio supervises retail, finance and an in-house team of three designers for product consistency, as the brand was first inspired by his own and his father’s wardrobe.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
10 Oct. 2025
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The assistant chief directly supervises section commanders, providing leadership, mentorship and guidance.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Israel, which controls aid into Gaza, has repeatedly halted and blocked entry points, which critics have called inhumane leverage.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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That reportedly includes Mango MNG Holding, which controls 95 percent of Mango’s capital.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The McClatchy Commerce Content team, which is independent from our newsroom, oversees this content.—
Kevin Cerveny,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
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As part of his curatorial brief, Havens oversees the Bibliotheca Fictiva Collection of Literary and Historical Forgery, available via JSTOR.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Weiland has affection for him yet keeps him strictly in the friend zone.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
15 Oct. 2025
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This morning, sentimentality keeps you from seeing a situation clearly.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Governs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governs. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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