Synonyms of ruling

ruling 1 of 3

noun

ˈrü-liŋ 

1

as in sentence

a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard

the controversial ruling by the state's supreme court caused an uproar

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sentence
• verdict
• finding
• decision
• judgment
• opinion
• holding
• injunction
• decree
• doom
• declaration
• pronouncement
• punishment
• conclusion
• edict
• determination
• authority
• inquest
• resolution
• award
• order
• dictum
• penalty
• arbitrament
• discipline
• deliverance

2

as in decree

an order publicly issued by an authority

the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decree
• edict
• decision
• directive
• proclamation
• resolution
• verdict
• announcement
• declaration
• opinion
• fiat
• diktat
• bull
• ukase
• rescript
• judgment
• diagnosis
• determination
• pronouncement
• conclusion
• dictum
• manifesto
• deliverance
• call
• canon
• encyclical

ruling

2 of 3

adjective

as in prevailing

held by or applicable to a majority of the people

the ruling opinion on premarital sex

Synonyms & Similar Words

• prevailing
• general
• public
• overall
• popular
• unanimous
• majority
• predominant
• common
• received
• present
• dominant
• vulgar
• current
• usual
• universal
• typical
• characteristic
• widespread
• contemporary
• prevalent
• pop
• familiar
• preponderant
• communal
• pervasive
• everyday
• rife
• household
• well-known
• shared
• pandemic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unusual
• special
• uncommon
• strange
• unknown
• rare
• unpopular
• individual
• separate
• unique
• peculiar
• distinctive
• personal
• private
• idiosyncratic
• especial
• singular
• nonpublic

ruling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rule

1

as in governing

to exercise authority or power over

a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• governing
• controlling
• dominating
• dictating
• commanding
• domineering
• presiding (over)
• managing
• swaying
• leading
• overseeing
• administering
• bossing
• captaining
• regulating
• heading
• supervising
• conducting
• oppressing
• directing
• conquering
• superintending
• mastering
• reigning (over)
• micromanaging
• subjugating
• tyrannizing
• subduing
• lording (it over)

2

as in controlling

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

• controlling
• regulating
• containing
• keeping
• curbing
• restraining
• governing
• measuring
• stifling
• suppressing
• holding
• checking
• constraining
• inhibiting
• taming
• stopping
• pulling in
• bridling
• reining (in)
• swallowing
• interrupting
• blocking
• arresting
• holding back
• repressing
• choking (back)
• silencing
• smothering
• impeding
• strangling
• hindering
• hampering
• obstructing
• bottling (up)
• sinking
• squelching
• muffling
• mincing
• pocketing
• handcuffing
• gagging
• muzzling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• losing
• liberating
• loosening
• expressing
• venting
• airing
• taking out
• unleashing
• loosing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of ruling

Noun

The ruling is narrower than what the plaintiffs had requested. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

However, a contingent of pro-autonomous vehicle backers, many from a group of 29 organizations that advocated on behalf of Waymo to the CPUC, celebrated the expansion ruling. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Mali’s ruling junta responded to an al-Qaida affiliate’s fuel blockade by shuttering all schools until mid-November, the latest sign of instability in the West African country. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 Oct. 2025

How would the new ruling impact DACA recipients and first-time applicants? — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025

Verb

After six months of war, Iran’s leadership has coalesced around a hard core of military generals and clerics long entrenched in the ruling theocracy. — Lee Keath, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

The successful release proved that Linkin Park was here to stay, and also that the nu metal subgenre the band helped popularize at the turn of the century was not done ruling the airwaves. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026