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adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word regulation distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of regulation are canon, law, ordinance, precept, rule, and statute. While all these words mean "a principle governing action or procedure," regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

regulations affecting nuclear power plants

When could canon be used to replace regulation?

While the synonyms canon and regulation are close in meaning, canon suggests in nonreligious use a principle or rule of behavior or procedure commonly accepted as a valid guide.

the canons of good taste

When is law a more appropriate choice than regulation?

Although the words law and regulation have much in common, law implies imposition by a sovereign authority and the obligation of obedience on the part of all subject to that authority.

obey the law

When might ordinance be a better fit than regulation?

While in some cases nearly identical to regulation, ordinance applies to an order governing some detail of procedure or conduct enforced by a limited authority such as a municipality.

a city ordinance

When is it sensible to use precept instead of regulation?

The words precept and regulation can be used in similar contexts, but precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

the precepts of effective writing

When can rule be used instead of regulation?

In some situations, the words rule and regulation are roughly equivalent. However, rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

the rules of the game

When would statute be a good substitute for regulation?

The words statute and regulation are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, statute implies a law enacted by a legislative body.

a statute requiring the use of seat belts

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 regulation
Noun
Real progress likely depends on systemic change: bold regulations to limit plastic production, major investments in alternative materials, and the will to challenge an industry that has polluted our planet for decades. Aissa Dearing, JSTOR Daily, 22 May 2025 Officials are encouraging air passengers to ensure bags are compliant with TSA regulations and to bring a Real ID or other acceptable identification such as a passport. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
Brett Maher went 6-for-9 on field goals while kicking into a non-regulation, skinny post, his longest from 50 yards. Dallas News, 18 Aug. 2022 Still, presuming that the anti-regulation guests also made misleading scientific statements (no big assumption, given the way this debate tends to go), the result is closely related. Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011 See All Example Sentences for regulation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regulation
Noun
  • Naturally, this rule tends not to apply to celebrities.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 May 2025
  • Israeli military rule would last nearly four decades, during which Hamas emerged as a splinter of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in the 1980s, until a 2005 disengagement.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Leveraging a robust background in HR leadership, Josh previously directed transformative talent practices at Red Ventures as vice president of people operations, leading talent management, HR business partner, talent acquisition, and M&A integration during his tenure.
    Josh Tarr, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • The portions of the budget that deal with public-land management, oil and gas and mineral development, and logging will go to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
    Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • This shift will require employees to develop new skills, particularly in areas such as AI oversight, strategic planning and creative problem-solving.
    Deepinder Singh Sethi, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Ultimately, the report recommends stricter oversight of charters and stronger protections for students and educators.
    Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Potential resources include applying for free or discounted hospital services, legal advice and consumer counseling.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
  • Wendy McMahon, the president and CEO of CBS News, abruptly resigned from her position in the midst of a legal faceoff between parent company Paramount and President Donald Trump.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • But efforts at the federal level fell short, including a congressional attempt, in 1995, to enact a law making English the exclusive language of the federal government and repealing the bilingual requirements of the Voting Rights Act.
    Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
  • Another point of contention at the convention came from Utah Senate Bill 54, a law that has grown controversial to members of the Utah GOP.
    Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • But that this most ruthless edition of Chelsea’s six successive years of WSL superiority has come under the supervision of a new head coach, Sonia Bompastor, following the end of the 12-year Emma Hayes era, is perhaps most impressive of all.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 16 May 2025
  • The crew is under the supervision of the capable Mensah (Noma Dumezweni) who is prone to panic attacks as the group visits an irritable planet at the behest of The Corporation — a powerful business conglomerate where profit is indeed king.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Under the devoted stewardship of generations of visionary winemakers, Rioja has become one of the world’s top five wine regions alongside Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa Valley, and Tuscany.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 May 2025
  • Trump's re-entry into the White House was paved with promises of immediate recovery and boosted by the near-historically low confidence Americans held in Biden's stewardship of the economy.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
Adjective
  • Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate student and lawful permanent resident who has been detained by immigration authorities since March, is scheduled to appear at a pivotal immigration hearing Thursday that could determine his future in the United States.
    Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
  • The buyer, a U.K. citizen married to a U.S. citizen, was set to receive a green card but hadn’t had it long enough to meet the SBA’s new six-month lookback requirement for lawful permanent residents.
    Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Regulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regulation. Accessed 27 May. 2025.

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