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

District Court of Appeals Judge Neomi Rao criticized the ruling in her dissent. — Nathan Lee, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

The ruling struck down 1971 and 2001 decisions that limited how much money political parties could spend in coordination with candidates. — Gerald Scorse, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 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

Marc-Andre ter Stegen had suffered a complete rupture of the patellar tendon in his right knee, ruling him out for the rest of the season, and the club needed an experienced replacement. — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Both men were arrested after allegedly protesting in the northern city of Isfahan, as part of nationwide rallies against the ruling theocratic government between late December and January this year. — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 July 2026