as in monarch
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruler
It is thought to be the only slave revolution in history where the former captives overthrew their rulers and went on to govern the country themselves.
—
Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026
The strikes, which Afghanistan's Taliban rulers said hit the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, shattered more than a month of calm in the war.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
The humongous robot Voltron served as the defender of the universe, being the only weapon able to fight off the evil Galra Empire and its ruler, Zarkon (voiced by Neil Kaplan).
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 10 June 2026
Past philosophers, such as Aristotle, emphasized the necessity of virtue in both the people and their rulers, and Montesquieu argued that virtue was the defining principle of republics.
—Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruler
Nick Miller, New York Times, 12 June 2026
The strikes, which Afghanistan's Taliban rulers said hit the eastern provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, shattered more than a month of calm in the war.
—CBS News, 10 June 2026
The humongous robot Voltron served as the defender of the universe, being the only weapon able to fight off the evil Galra Empire and its ruler, Zarkon (voiced by Neil Kaplan).
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 10 June 2026
Past philosophers, such as Aristotle, emphasized the necessity of virtue in both the people and their rulers, and Montesquieu argued that virtue was the defining principle of republics.
—Jordan Cash, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruler
Noun
-
The ceremony is an annual national celebration and parade that honors the official birthday of the British monarch.—
Staff Author,
InStyle,
15 June 2026
-
Queen Elizabeth often donned fur for public engagements and for trips overseas; the late monarch even rocked real leopard skin in her younger years.—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Roman emperors used gladiators to do just that.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
17 June 2026
-
To celebrate its North American launch, Yves Saint Laurent hosted a party fit for an emperor of the Tang dynasty.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
For 10 long years, the sovereign toiled in a 2-by-10-foot castle antechamber to create the perfect beer.—
Bill Swank,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 June 2026
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The military procession continues to serve as the official birthday for the reigning sovereign, regardless of when their actual birthday falls.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Jalen Brunson, the team’s emotional engine and now forever king of the city, scored forty-five points in the win, nearly half the Knicks’ total.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
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Throughout history, kings, queens and other members of the royal family have donned luxurious fur stoles, floor-length fur coats, capes with mink trims and cloaks with ermine edges (that's weasel fur).—
Jennifer Hassan,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruler. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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