RULED Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

ruled

verb

past tense of rule

as in governed

to exercise authority or power over a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in controlled

to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) a monarch who is known for ruling her emotions with an iron hand

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 ruled The revolutionary idea that the ruled rather than the rulers decide the rules emerged only haltingly. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 In the end the judge denied Hochman's motion and ruled to go forward with the resentencing hearing and in May 2025 reduced the brothers' sentences from life without parole to 50 years to life. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state in May, barring dispensation of mifepristone by telehealth providers and by pharmacies or mail, but the Supreme Court preserved access to the pill, keeping the lower court's order on hold. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 Soon after, a federal judge in Missouri ruled in favor of two GOP congressional candidates who argued that the new map must be used. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026 The case was thrown out Wednesday after a judge ruled his prior felony conviction had been modified to a juvenile disposition under a landmark California criminal justice reform law. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 The gerrymandered map could not go into effect unless voters approved it in November, the state Supreme Court ruled. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026 The men eventually landed in Malabo, the port city capital of Equatorial Guinea, the west African country that has been ruled by the same family dictatorship for nearly six decades. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 He was ruled incompetent to stand trial, and the case was later dismissed. — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled

Verb

On the technical side, is the data trusted and governed, and are security, observability and auditability actually in place, or assumed?

— Rajesh Gharpure, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Big Deal Deloitte's Finance Trends 2027 report explores how finance leaders are increasingly operating in a dual role, leading not only transformation within finance teams, but also shaping how enterprise-wide tech and AI investments are governed.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of governed

Verb

There is also a drone for aerial shots, controlled from a little tent on the roof of a synagogue just behind the Mound Stand on the other side of St John’s Wood Road.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
OpenAI says the surrounding mathematics remains controlled enough to keep the fluid’s energy finite.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of controlled

Verb

Thomasin McKenzie plays a young woman, Alyce, steeped in her own trauma and loss, who attaches herself to the ploughman, and her ability to express wide-eyed, barely contained hysteria and fear is unmatched.

— Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
One narrative contained in the Koran speaks of the people of Ad.

— Robert Stone, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of contained

Verb

But the unyielding free market advocate likely became just as well known for his opposition to Proposition 103, the landmark 1988 insurance initiative that regulated the industry following a period of skyrocketing auto premiums.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Second, passenger transport and tourism businesses are regulated regionally, Patanè said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of regulated

Verb

Spurs kept a clean sheet, an achievement to build on after shipping five in their opening two, and looked solid, if a little unimaginative in midfield.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
As the Yeomen continued losing games last year, the larger college-football machine kept humming at campuses across the country.

— Jesse Dougherty, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of kept

Verb

Once inside, they’re restrained, sometimes blindfolded to preserve their sanity, and carefully sheared before being released.

— Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2026
The man was restrained to his seat with duct tape, and his hands were secured with zip ties, ABC News reported, citing the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

— Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of restrained

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ruled

ruled (on)

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“Ruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruled

verb

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