1
as in regulations
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity
read the rules that are posted before you use the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in governments
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)
the years during which Russia was under Communist rule
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in traditions
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing
one of the sacred rules of that ancient society was respect for the elderly
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in governs
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in controls
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 rules
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
While many students across Michigan face rules from districts or teachers limiting their phone use, the state has no law in place standardizing cellphone restrictions across school districts.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Anyway Decentralized exchanges were never meant to play by old rules.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers in California responded in kind, approving a measure to put a proposal on the November ballot that would suspend current redistricting rules and allow Democrats to gain a similar number of seats.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Xi sees an opportune moment to make what might be his most dramatic showing yet of his challenge to a world based on Western rules and sensibilities.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Lily the entrepreneur-warrior-hunter may try to actively determine the course of her own life, but she’s also portrayed as passively in the tidal grip of large impersonal forces like money, desire, and different social rules for women and men.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Republican councilors say that civilian employees of fire and police departments should be subject to the same residency rules as sworn officers and firefighters, who often earn higher wages.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 31 Aug. 2025
Some holidays waive regular parking rules and regulations.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 31 Aug. 2025
Mark J. Burns, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Parents will gain the ability to control how ChatGPT responds, with age-appropriate behavior rules on by default.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
The panel was asked whether Russia rules the world today.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Once Upon a Time Step into the charming coastal town of Storybrooke, Maine, where fairy-tale characters are suspended in time and stripped of their memories — all except for the Evil Queen, Regina (Lana Parrilla), who rules as mayor and author of the curse.
—James Mercadante, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Under a joint stipulation approved by Gayles, Murdoch and Thomson waived personal jurisdiction defenses, but no depositions or document discovery can proceed until the judge rules.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Leo rules the heart chakra, so this placement adds zest to both creativity and love.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 22 Aug. 2025
Eligibility rules allegedly hinder athletes’ chances to earn NIL deals, since the athletes’ marketability is tied to their school’s brand.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2025
House Democrats also face a daily $500 fine, House rules state.
—Eleanor Dearman
updated August 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
Reeves has repeatedly dismissed the possibility of bending her own fiscal rules on borrowing.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
While many students across Michigan face rules from districts or teachers limiting their phone use, the state has no law in place standardizing cellphone restrictions across school districts.
—Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Anyway Decentralized exchanges were never meant to play by old rules.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Lawmakers in California responded in kind, approving a measure to put a proposal on the November ballot that would suspend current redistricting rules and allow Democrats to gain a similar number of seats.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Xi sees an opportune moment to make what might be his most dramatic showing yet of his challenge to a world based on Western rules and sensibilities.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Lily the entrepreneur-warrior-hunter may try to actively determine the course of her own life, but she’s also portrayed as passively in the tidal grip of large impersonal forces like money, desire, and different social rules for women and men.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Republican councilors say that civilian employees of fire and police departments should be subject to the same residency rules as sworn officers and firefighters, who often earn higher wages.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 31 Aug. 2025
Some holidays waive regular parking rules and regulations.
—Charles Singh, The Tennessean, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
Play by play caller Mike Tirico will be joined alongside by analyst Cris Collinsworth, sideline reporter Melissa Stark and rules analyst Terry McAulay.
—Mark J. Burns, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Parents will gain the ability to control how ChatGPT responds, with age-appropriate behavior rules on by default.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
The panel was asked whether Russia rules the world today.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Once Upon a Time Step into the charming coastal town of Storybrooke, Maine, where fairy-tale characters are suspended in time and stripped of their memories — all except for the Evil Queen, Regina (Lana Parrilla), who rules as mayor and author of the curse.
—James Mercadante, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Under a joint stipulation approved by Gayles, Murdoch and Thomson waived personal jurisdiction defenses, but no depositions or document discovery can proceed until the judge rules.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Leo rules the heart chakra, so this placement adds zest to both creativity and love.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 22 Aug. 2025
Eligibility rules allegedly hinder athletes’ chances to earn NIL deals, since the athletes’ marketability is tied to their school’s brand.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2025
House Democrats also face a daily $500 fine, House rules state.
—Eleanor Dearman
updated August 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules
Noun
-
Schneider said any crackdowns on potential violators are more likely to be aimed at organized efforts to circumvent consumer protection laws, rather than go after every individual who may skirt regulations.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Therapists going the route of AI usage will need to be mindful of the latest laws and regulations pertaining to AI usage.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kentucky's General Assembly passed a law in 1984 that allowed cities, counties and urban-county governments to enact a balanced landlord-tenant act known as URLTA.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The countries which enact digital services taxes, however, argue that massive tech titans like Amazon operate within their borders and generate huge profits from their citizens while paying little or no taxes to the respective governments.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Alongside this darkness, Sage shares the traditions of her people that save her life, braiding her personal story together with Cree stories, and with the ceremonies that have carried her through times of need.—
Eliana Ramage
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Cultural influences can play a role, too, and some numbers are considered lucky or unlucky in different traditions.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In its world, resurrected mammoths roam, AI governs underground facilities, and human-animal hybrids embody both triumph and ambiguity.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Kate is a patron of the Rugby Football Union in England, while William serves as the patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, which governs the game in Wales.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Users may believe their chats are private, but in many cases, the company controls how the information is stored, shared or even sold.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Blue Frontier is commercializing the technology by integrating it into its Dedicated Outdoor Air System, a 20-ton unit installed in Florida, which controls temperature and humidity while operating primarily during periods of solar photovoltaic production.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Schneider said any crackdowns on potential violators are more likely to be aimed at organized efforts to circumvent consumer protection laws, rather than go after every individual who may skirt regulations.—
Arpan Lobo,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Due to the state's open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner.—
Steven Martinez,
jsonline.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This is the product of past administrations, Republican and Democrat, trying to silence victims.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency shows timelines to get FEMA aid flowing to Wisconsin have varied greatly across presidential administrations, spanning from just a few days to more than two months.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The trade deal also commits to weakening the EU’s deforestation regulations and its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which dictates ESG information companies must make public.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
More likely, there will come a time when the performance of Wilson and the team dictates a transition to Dart.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share