RULES (ON) Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

rules (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule (on)

as in decides

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) the coach ruled on the question of whether an off-campus bar fight ought to disqualify someone from the team

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules (on)

Verb

Set in the summer of 1970, the story turns on the diligent civil servant Heikki who decides to host a high-ranking Soviet diplomat at his family’s lakeside cottage.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
In Nobody Wants This, agnostic podcaster Joanne Williams (Kristen Bell) begins an unexpected romance with Rabbi Noah Roklov (Brody), which shakes both their families as Joanne immerses herself in Noah’s culture and decides to convert to Judaism.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

Development creates anatomy, which determines local physiology.

— Subramaniam C. Krishnan, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
Democrats serious about climate change should support active management tools before wildfire determines what these landscapes look like for generations.

— Chris Edwards, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

For an adolescent navigating friendships, rejection, identity and belonging, something that never judges them or gossips and is always available can be incredibly compelling.

— Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
He was seen on the CBS broadcast giving one of the side judges an earful.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of judges

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.

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rules

rules (on)

rules out

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“Rules (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20%28on%29. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rules (on)

verb

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