1
as in governed
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of ruled
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner first ruled his death an apparent suicide.
—
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
But the Florida Supreme Court in 2017 ruled the new law was unconstitutional, saying jury verdicts needed to be unanimous.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Ultimately, officials ruled that the shot had not gone off in time, ending the Tigers' celebration and prompting one from Texas A&M.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The race for another Board of Review seat will be a head-to-head match rather than uncontested after county officials ruled incumbent Commissioner George Cardenas was safe on the ballot.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Los Angeles coroner ruled that the two died from injuries inflicted by a knife.
—Steve Futterman, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013 when the former leader, Hugo Chavez, died, but American officials have refused since 2019 to recognize Maduro as president because his re-election was deemed to be fraudulent.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Once upon a time, chestnuts ruled the eastern woodlands of North America, with billions of trees stretching from Maine to Mississippi.
—Todd Plummer, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
The manner of his death was ruled an accident.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
But the Florida Supreme Court in 2017 ruled the new law was unconstitutional, saying jury verdicts needed to be unanimous.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
Ultimately, officials ruled that the shot had not gone off in time, ending the Tigers' celebration and prompting one from Texas A&M.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
The race for another Board of Review seat will be a head-to-head match rather than uncontested after county officials ruled incumbent Commissioner George Cardenas was safe on the ballot.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Los Angeles coroner ruled that the two died from injuries inflicted by a knife.
—Steve Futterman, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
Maduro has ruled Venezuela since 2013 when the former leader, Hugo Chavez, died, but American officials have refused since 2019 to recognize Maduro as president because his re-election was deemed to be fraudulent.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026
Once upon a time, chestnuts ruled the eastern woodlands of North America, with billions of trees stretching from Maine to Mississippi.
—Todd Plummer, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2025
The manner of his death was ruled an accident.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled
Verb
-
The authority is governed by a seven-member board appointed by the governor.—
Joshua Haiar,
States Newsroom,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The proud and courageous Iranian people are rising up against the tyrannical, despotic and oppressive regime that imposed its vicious rule in 1979 and has governed by fear and murder ever since.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Through the integration with Tactical Assault Kit software, the team remotely controlled multiple unmanned ground and surface units across a large, 50-square-mile operational area.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Staff shortages have led to flow control programs to keep flights safe in other areas, too, like the airspace controlled by Jacksonville Center.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Three City Hall employees reported that their wallets, which contained cash, credit cards, health savings account cards, and personal ID were stolen from their offices, per Boston Police reports.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The damage was largely contained to what firefighters call a wildland-urban interface fire, not a larger conflagration like the one developing in the Palisades.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a kind of social contract under which utilities operate essentially as monopolies to provide a public service and in exchange are regulated.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The devices measure pollutants regulated by the EPA, including nitrogen oxides, ozone and particulate matter from sources like gas turbines, factories and heavy traffic.—
Jack Armstrong,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Even more public-identifying figures on Letterboxd — like Sean Baker — have curbed their activity on the platform, and other stars like Ayo Edebiri (and now Williams) deleted their accounts entirely.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The 11 rookies — along with less-than 30 leaders like Bryce Young, Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown — are a large reason why the Panthers curbed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ four-year reign as NFC South champs.—
Mike Kaye
January 6,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Daniels kept getting hurt this season, managing to start only seven games and getting shut down in December after a series of injuries to his left knee, right hamstring and left elbow.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
While rebounding kept the Horned Frogs in the game early, the offense finally picked up until the mistakes piled up down the stretch.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Deputies said initial statements claimed he had been kidnapped and robbed at gunpoint by two unknown suspects who then allegedly restrained him and set the vehicle on fire.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Kerr had to be restrained by Payton and assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Kris Weems.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
By modeling this signal across each galaxy, the team measured how fast the gas was moving and how chaotic its motion was.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Cooked egg noodles, made two days prior to inspection, were stored in a reach-in refrigerator measured below proper temperatures.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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