Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

ruling

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of ruling

held by or applicable to a majority of the people

  • the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Synonyms of ruling

common, general, majority, overall, popular, prevailing, public, received, vulgar
Words Related to ruling

unanimous, universal

pop

everyday, familiar, household, usual, well-known

contemporary, current, present

dominant, predominant, preponderant

characteristic, typical

pandemic, pervasive, prevalent, rife, widespread

communal, shared
Near Antonyms of ruling

rare, strange, unknown, unusual

distinctive, especial, idiosyncratic, peculiar, special, unique

individual, separate, singular

nonpublic, personal, private
Antonyms of ruling

uncommon, unpopular

ruling

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of ruling

1 a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard

  • the controversial ruling by the stateʼs supreme court caused an uproar
Synonyms of ruling

doom, finding, holding, judgment (or judgement), sentence
Words Related to ruling

inquest, verdict

authority

decree, edict, injunction, order

arbitrament, award, declaration, deliverance, dictum, pronouncement

conclusion, decision, determination, opinion, resolution

discipline, penalty, punishment

2 an order publicly issued by an authority

  • the FCCʼs ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities
Synonyms of ruling

bull, decree, diktat, directive, edict, fiat, rescript, ukase
Words Related to ruling

call, conclusion, decision, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment (or judgement), opinion, resolution, verdict

announcement, declaration, dictum, manifesto, proclamation, pronouncement

canon, encyclical

Learn More about ruling

  1. Dictionary: Definition of ruling Spanish Central: Translation of ruling Nglish: Translation of ruling for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ruling for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ruling? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games