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
Relevance
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority
the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruling
Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The judge in that case is now set to issue a ruling on whether or not the court will even hear arguments in the case.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Critics argue the measures target urban, educated, and affluent voters who may not support the ruling Fidesz party.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Nik Popli, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
Karayilan said that Turkish government and ruling party officials had set April as the month in which legislation advancing the process would be brought to parliament, a deadline that has now passed with no bill introduced.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
In a 6-3 ruling, the court struck down a Louisiana map that drew a new Black-majority district.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The judge in that case is now set to issue a ruling on whether or not the court will even hear arguments in the case.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
How would the new ruling impact DACA recipients and first-time applicants?
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Critics argue the measures target urban, educated, and affluent voters who may not support the ruling Fidesz party.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Verb
Federal judges have often declined to intervene in disputes over war powers, deeming them political questions or ruling that lawmakers lack standing to sue.
—Nik Popli, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
Karayilan said that Turkish government and ruling party officials had set April as the month in which legislation advancing the process would be brought to parliament, a deadline that has now passed with no bill introduced.
—ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
-
Ex-Tokyo Electron engineer Chen Li-ming was handed the sentence by Judge Chang Ming-huang at Taiwan’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Court on Monday.—
Debby Wu,
Bloomberg,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Russell was charged in state court with voluntary manslaughter and pleaded guilty, receiving a jail sentence and probation.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Abbas signed a decree last year reforming elections in line with some demands of Western donors, including to allow voting for individuals rather than slates.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
-
The Commission is comprised of 13 commissioners who are appointed for terms of up to 5 years by the governor general on the advice of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, whose authority is exercised by the federal Cabinet of the governing party in the Canadian Parliament.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adams, who finished fourth in the crowded Democratic primary for mayor in 2025, added that women, in her experience, take a noticeably different approach to governing than men.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her fury at Helios employees being treated so shabbily is matched only by her disbelief at Ger and his crew’s recklessness in allowing the consoles monitoring and controlling all of Happy Valley’s life-support systems and communications with the Titan mission unstaffed.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
The study introduces a novel method for controlling quantum harmonic oscillators — systems that mimic vibrating objects such as springs or pendulums at the subatomic level.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Edwin Franqui was convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault in the first degree with a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm in connection with the fatal 2020 drive-by shooting, and then appealed that verdict to state Supreme Court.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The verdict As if its beautiful beaches and stunning lagoon aren’t enough to lull you into a sense of deep relaxation, Joali Being will stop at nothing to enhance your sense of wellbeing.—
Ann Lee,
TheWeek,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But that edict died with him, Vaez said.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Much like the demonstrations two decades ago, organizers on Friday also called for a general boycott — no school, no work, no shopping — in an effort to demand that the country put workers above billionaires by taxing the rich.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The one issue for Banchero, and the Magic in general, was free-throw shooting.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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