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 state appealed that ruling, asking the Georgia Supreme Court to find that Humphreys is not entitled to have his sentence reconsidered under the new law. — Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026

In Thursday’s ruling, the FCC found that the public interest supports permitting Paramount’s foreign equity ownership to exceed the typical benchmark for such a deal. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026

Adjective

This vibe continues to be brought to you courtesy of your co-ruling planet, rebellious Uranus, moving into your fifth house of self-expression on April 25, empowering you to lean fully into your penchant for unconventionality and incorporating the element of surprise in your personal style. — Maressa Brown, InStyle, 9 Jan. 2026

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

Verb

The ruling invalidated spending limits and led to the rise of super PACs (political action committees) in federal elections. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026

While a federal district court ruled in favor of reinstating the 2025 map, the Supreme Court halted that ruling pending appeal, reinstalling the 2022 map for now — even though the state conducted primary elections in August using the 2025 map. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 17 Sep. 2026