1
as in to rule
to exercise authority or power over
the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to regulate
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
Swalwell challenged the early-stage inquiry into his mortgage in part by citing the Privacy Act, which governs the release of identifying documents within the government and generally prevents their release without a person’s consent.
—
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Critics, including the American Gaming Association, counter that federal intervention undermines the state-by-state regulatory model that has successfully governed the industry since 2018.
—Cláudia Nunes, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
The result is a slow demolition of the mechanisms that force the two sides to actually govern together.
—Tony Vanderhoef, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Soccer's governing body did not announce which games and price categories were available, leaving potential ticket buyers to search themselves on a FIFA ticketing site that often took hours to enter.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Critics, including the American Gaming Association, counter that federal intervention undermines the state-by-state regulatory model that has successfully governed the industry since 2018.
—Cláudia Nunes, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
The result is a slow demolition of the mechanisms that force the two sides to actually govern together.
—Tony Vanderhoef, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026
Soccer's governing body did not announce which games and price categories were available, leaving potential ticket buyers to search themselves on a FIFA ticketing site that often took hours to enter.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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The fight to fly ultralights from the Yuba County Airport has continued months after the county ended its yearslong ban of the small aircraft, with the Federal Aviation Administration now poised to rule on the claims of discrimination and lack of compliance alleged by ultralight pilots.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2026
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The medical examiner ruled Mitchell's death a homicide from blunt force trauma, according to prosecutors.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Colorado argued that states have the right to regulate the medical industry as a means of promoting consumer health and safety.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Citing a surge in reckless riding and pedestrian close-calls, some South Florida municipalities are launching safety campaigns or passing ordinances to regulate e-bikes on neighborhood streets and sidewalks.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And across these two games, England managed just one goal, when Ben White tapped in on Friday.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Officials state the move will place leadership closer to the Western lands the agency manages and improve its mission.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Organic pesticides can still have environmental impacts because they are designed to control living organisms.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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But the website isn’t full of articles about how the earth is flat or how aliens are controlling our government.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In addition, motions in which the prosecution opposed mental health diversions for two defendants contained similar errors, Stuart wrote.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The Jumping Branch fire has spread to 275 acres and is only 30% contained, state officials said Tuesday.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More importantly, Slaughter expanded her game, operating more in the post, rebounding at a higher level and continuing to handle the ball effectively.—
Aaron Segal,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
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In a statement Friday, before the AALA results were released, a district spokesperson said school operations would depend on which employees participate in a strike, ranging from campuses remaining open to operating with limited services or potentially closing.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The play began with Segovia, who got the ball into the path of Ian Fray, who raced it down and kept it in, and passed it directly to Messi’s head.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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Inside, one side of the suitcase features a zipped compartment—useful for keeping toiletries and smaller items contained safely—while the other has a robust compression system with a notably sturdy strap and weighty steel buckle.—
Charley Ward,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In February, the judge overseeing the case dismissed several claims against the bank, but let stand two others.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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One called Rabin’s government a Judenrat, the Nazi term for Jewish councils appointed to oversee ghettos.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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