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

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

But the ball unintentionally touched multiple players before, and a slight head touch led to the ruling. — Alex Connor, USA Today, 3 July 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

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

That latter track missed out on ruling the Billboard Global Excl. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026