ruling 1 of 3

noun

ˈrü-liŋ How to pronounce ruling (audio)
Definition of rulingnext
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

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2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities

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ruling

2 of 3

adjective

as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people the ruling opinion on premarital sex

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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

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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

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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 ruling
Noun
The fact that the ruling was not unanimously in favor of preserving the current interpretation of the Citizenship Clause was unsurprising but deeply disturbing to Proaño. — Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Its rulings on which countries’ markets count as developed, emerging, frontier, or standalone are watched from Bulgaria to Indonesia, and its offerings now span risk management tools and climate and sustainability data. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 July 2026
Adjective
Machado recounted a teacher who convinced her local ruling-party captain to support the opposition after her son, living in Peru, urged her to vote for change. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025 But opponents saw the move as an attempt by López Obrador to strengthen the power of his ruling Morena party by overhauling the very judiciary that often blocked some of his policy proposals. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Verb
But a federal judge dismissed the charges, ruling the Potomac River is controlled by the state of Maryland, meaning the federal Park Police had zero jurisdiction over the water. — Jasmine Baehr , Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 In an unstable industry with IP, nepotism and maybe even now artificial intelligence ruling supreme, Ridd and Boa have doubled down on emerging filmmakers with original stories. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
  1. sentence
  2. decree
  3. prevailing
  4. governing
  5. controlling
  6. verdict
  7. edict
  8. general
Noun
  • His use of the presidency’s sweeping ability to unilaterally grant pardons and commute sentences is among the ways the Republican’s return to office has featured an expansive use of executive power.
    — Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • The pair, who were detained in March, had already spent four months in prison prior to the punishment, which ultimately reduced their sentence from 25 lashes to 21, the AP said.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of sentence
Noun
  • Rodriguez said during the press conference that her government issued an emergency decree to activate civil protection and emergency protocols within hours of the tremors.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Vatican decree targeted bishops and faithful In a decree, the Vatican excommunicated the four new bishops and the two existing SSPX bishops who participated in the ceremony.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of decree
Adjective
  • The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.
    — Betsy Golden Kellem, JSTOR Daily, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of prevailing
Verb
  • An international force meant to secure parts of Gaza – and allow for the NCAG to begin governing – has yet to materialize.
    — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • But Persad-Bissessar, who left that summit early, argues the decision violated the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the agreement governing the bloc known as CARICOM.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of governing
Verb
  • The Argentine legend unlocked the Cape Verde defense in the 29th minute, controlling a long diagonal pass with one touch in the box and promptly flicking it over the head of a charging Vozinha.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Intelligent power switches can monitor electrical flow while controlling loads more efficiently.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of controlling
Noun
  • At the end of a two-week trial, the verdict went strongly in favor of Maria Avila, who was viciously attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd owned by Brown, while emptying trash outside the singer’s Tarzana, California house.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • The honest version of this story sets a threshold rather than a verdict.
    — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of verdict
Noun
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • The memorandum includes a pledge by Iran to never purchase or construct nuclear weapons — a vow the Islamic Republic has made multiple times before, including by signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a religious edict issued by the late supreme leader and in the Obama-era nuclear accord.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of edict
Adjective
  • Little’s lack of response to a possible return that offseason resulted in general manager Ned Colletti pursuing other options.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • While unions secured general salary increases last year to offset the salary reductions associated with the leave program, the agreements did not include similar increases in July 2026.
    — William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of general

Browse Nearby Words

rules out
ruling
ruling (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ruling for Spanish Speakers

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