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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ruling
Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Fresno County’s taxpayers are expected to pay at least $2 million after an appeals court ruling last week upheld a lower court’s decision that sheriff’s deputies violated a pet owner’s rights and unnecessarily killed their dog in 2018.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
But its ruling African National Congress, which Mandela led from an anti-apartheid liberation movement to a political party in government, has retained its strong pro-Palestinian stance even after Mandela died in 2013.
—Gerald Imray, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2024
Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
However, spring begins on a sour note, as Venus—your ruling planet—will station retrograde in Aries as of March 1.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
The Trump administration has latched on to the ruling to shut down legal battles over its sweeping federal aid freezes, saying those, too, are Tucker Act claims being brought in the wrong courts.
—Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Fresno County’s taxpayers are expected to pay at least $2 million after an appeals court ruling last week upheld a lower court’s decision that sheriff’s deputies violated a pet owner’s rights and unnecessarily killed their dog in 2018.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Loading your audio article A California Democrat eked out a win in the final outstanding House election race, setting up an even narrower Republican edge in the coming Congress and signaling potential headaches for the ruling GOP.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 4 Dec. 2024
But its ruling African National Congress, which Mandela led from an anti-apartheid liberation movement to a political party in government, has retained its strong pro-Palestinian stance even after Mandela died in 2013.
—Gerald Imray, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2024
Verb
This decision is part of broader litigation challenging the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), with several district courts ruling in favor of the Treasury's position on the CTA's constitutionality.
—Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
However, spring begins on a sour note, as Venus—your ruling planet—will station retrograde in Aries as of March 1.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
-
The three remaining federal death row prisoners whose sentences Biden didn't commute are all challenging their cases.—
Kristin Wright,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
-
His aides had been wrestling with which defendants should be pardoned or have their sentences commuted.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Tracy Thomas, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Akron, said the issue is that court decrees are uncommon since they are generally not required for married individuals who want to change their name.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
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Lawmakers then voted down the decree at the country’s parliament, hours after the martial law declaration, before filing impeachment motions against Yoon a few days later.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The death, in a hospital, was announced by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body.—
Dylan Loeb McClain,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Whether your board can discontinue maintenance hinges on the co-op’s governing documents and the approval of any change by the requisite voting interests.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Massachusetts woman is back in court after a first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024 after the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Two of those women — Jessica Mann and Miriam Haley — were involved in the 2020 case against Weinstein, which resulted in a guilty verdict that was ultimately overturned, leading to the retrial.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Thus, if the administration decides to ignore court decisions ordering noninterference with the states or threatens to coerce state authority to do its bidding, state governments can respond in kind by ignoring lawless federal edicts and refusing to cooperate with federal enforcement efforts.—
Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Many of these grants were likely stopped due to the administration’s edict to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the federal agencies.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Primaries not needed Spanberger and Earle-Sears can both skip competing in a primary and will instead head straight into the general face-off.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
-
This year is a defining one for Verbeek, who became a first-time NHL general manager in February 2022 after being an acolyte to Steve Yzerman in Tampa Bay and Detroit.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On the other hand, if your social media app of choice elicits feelings of insufficiency, and self-control resources are burned up by exerting will power to avoid consuming products, or regulating hard emotions, than that experience is important to notice.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The drug may achieve these benefits by regulating cellular growth and metabolism.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Wouldn't withholding judgment in a party's other cases be a legitimate way for a court to force compliance with its orders?—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Fear of judgment stops people sharing their best work.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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