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rule

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rule distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of rule are canon, law, ordinance, precept, regulation, and statute. While all these words mean "a principle governing action or procedure," rule applies to more restricted or specific situations.

the rules of the game

When might canon be a better fit than rule?

In some situations, the words canon and rule are roughly equivalent. However, 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 rule?

While the synonyms law and rule are close in meaning, 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 is it sensible to use ordinance instead of rule?

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

a city ordinance

Where would precept be a reasonable alternative to rule?

The meanings of precept and rule largely overlap; however, precept commonly suggests something advisory and not obligatory communicated typically through teaching.

the precepts of effective writing

In what contexts can regulation take the place of rule?

The words regulation and rule are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, regulation implies prescription by authority in order to control an organization or system.

regulations affecting nuclear power plants

When would statute be a good substitute for rule?

The words statute and rule can be used in similar contexts, but 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 rule
Noun
San Diego City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell has admitted violating city record-keeping rules during her 2022 re-election campaign and agreed to pay a $300 fine to resolve the case brought by the San Diego Ethics Commission. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025 The Dodgers signed him in February 1954 for $5,000 and a $10,000 bonus, but the rules at the time stated that a player signing for a bonus of more than $6,000 had to stay on the major-league roster (as the Dodgers subsequently did with Sandy Koufax) or be subject to the Rule 5 draft. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
On Friday, the court ruled that the current management team and the company’s board could remain in place and oversee a restructuring plan. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025 In The Long Walk, set in a dystopian 1970s-era America ruled by an authoritarian regime, 50 teens are selected to participate in the eponymous annual event, where they are forced to continuously walk or else be executed. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rule
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rule
Noun
  • This was a week dedicated to the passage of several bills that would ease regulations on prominent appliances.
    Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the new steps as a move to end burdensome regulations.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Republican lawmakers are upping the pressure on GOP leaders to extend enhanced health insurance subsidies set to expire at year’s end for those with Affordable Care Act coverage, bolstering similar demands from Democrats as part of government funding talks.
    Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The kitchen turns out dishes influenced by a range of traditions, and with the recent addition of the renowned chef Byron Rubio, the menu is reaching new heights of creativity and refinement.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Since the release of ChatGPT, in 2022, colleges and universities have been engaged in an experiment to discover whether artificially intelligent chatbots and the liberal-arts tradition can coexist.
    Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bill Sharp of Big Wave Challenge, the sport’s new governing body, was on the judging panel that analyzed photos of Slebir’s ride from six angles.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • One of the biggest reasons for that is the lack of an overriding commission governing the sport, leaving no structure and gaping holes in regulation and fighter safety.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Democrats are doing fairly well in the generic congressional ballot, which tests which party voters prefer to control Congress.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The team has now built the first transistor-like switch that controls exciton flow.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The grants were allocated under President Joe Biden's signature Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, an anti-gun violence law signed after the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
    Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Aside from his signature 2021 criminal justice bill, Cooper signed legislation into law in 2020, allowing judges to reduce mandatory minimum sentences mandated by law for drug offenders.
    Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • When asked by a reporter for more details about how Trump planned to ban mail-in ballots, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration planned to work with Republicans on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2025
  • That project also received $3 billion of federal funding from the Biden administration.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Researchers have found that curcumin—the primary compound found in turmeric—has potent anti-inflammatory properties that can help regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Northern Sea Route is generally viewed as more developed and regulated, with Moscow investing heavily in infrastructure as part of a broader campaign to gain an upper hand in the Arctic.
    Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rule. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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