1
as in governed
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Meanwhile, municipal courts around the state are adjusting to a new normal after the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in December that cities cannot punish lawbreakers beyond what state statute would allow for the same offenses.
—
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Whether a judge has ruled on Seraphine’s placement is unclear because the proceedings are closed to the public.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against Heraskevych’s appeal, effectively ending his final opportunity to compete for a medal at this year's Games.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The Bediako case is a nice counterexample to the favoritism argument; the first judge stepped aside when his relationship with the university, or at least the coverage and commentary surrounding it, was too close-knit to be ignored, and the second judge ruled against his alma mater.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
There was no evidence to suggest that sort of violation, Lockard ruled.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 14 Feb. 2026
The arbitrator was moved by his story but ruled against him anyway, denying him his last chance for a win of any kind at this year’s Olympics.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Judges ruled Lai was the mastermind Lai was arrested in August 2020 under the security law that was used in a years-long crackdown on many of Hong Kong’s leading activists.
—Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi is hugely popular, but the governing LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
Whether a judge has ruled on Seraphine’s placement is unclear because the proceedings are closed to the public.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled against Heraskevych’s appeal, effectively ending his final opportunity to compete for a medal at this year's Games.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The Bediako case is a nice counterexample to the favoritism argument; the first judge stepped aside when his relationship with the university, or at least the coverage and commentary surrounding it, was too close-knit to be ignored, and the second judge ruled against his alma mater.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
There was no evidence to suggest that sort of violation, Lockard ruled.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 14 Feb. 2026
The arbitrator was moved by his story but ruled against him anyway, denying him his last chance for a win of any kind at this year’s Olympics.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
Judges ruled Lai was the mastermind Lai was arrested in August 2020 under the security law that was used in a years-long crackdown on many of Hong Kong’s leading activists.
—Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Takaichi is hugely popular, but the governing LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled
Verb
-
Education officials constantly press for more state spending, which is governed by complicated formulas in a 1988 ballot measure, Proposition 98.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The state has long been governed by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which mandates a flat income tax and caps state revenue collection.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Thick or coarse hair becomes more controlled without needing grease or gel.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The drones can also be controlled by a pilot.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After his death, Bogut and her family found out that the drugs Patryk had used before his death contained a lethal dose of fentanyl.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The fire is over 280,000 acres and only 15% contained, according to Watch Duty, a wildfire tracking app.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After independence, more banks regulated by individual states, if at all, were established.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Authored the Cultivate Texas Act—responsible adult legalization (age 21+, regulated like alcohol, strict youth prevention/testing) generating billions for property tax elimination and schools.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Strikingly, Mary felt that semaglutide had not only curbed her first-order desire to drink but also helped her act on second-order desires.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, several hospitals have curbed or stopped providing gender-affirming care for minors.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That builds on similar trends throughout 2025, when the industry buoyed an otherwise slow labor market, as the nation’s hospitals, clinics and nursing homes kept hiring even as many employers pulled back.—
Abha Bhattarai,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
But with fewer trees along the highway and more grassy areas, flame heights are kept well below seven or eight feet, which would threaten evacuation.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
No body that can be confined or restrained; no social or institutional standing to revoke; no reputation to damage.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Consumer demand is their, but their spending power is restrained.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For many, Paczki Day is less about indulgence and more about memory; the taste of something familiar, the comfort of ritual and the quiet joy of carrying a box of pastries out into the cold, knowing that once a year, tradition is measured not in hours, but in powdered sugar.—
Vivian Richey,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Time spent reading, writing, and playing games was then measured later in life, starting at the average age of 80.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
