GOVERNS Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

governs

verb

present tense third-person singular of govern

as in rules

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

as in regulates

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

as in operates

to look after and make decisions about the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of governs Congress has not passed a farm bill — a legislative package normally done every five years that governs agricultural and food programs — since 2018. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 30 July 2026 Christopherson said the wider drop-off defies the simple currency logic that normally governs foreign buying behavior. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 July 2026 The council was asked to amend the city’s gambling regulations to formally incorporate the Chula Vista Gaming Plan, which governs the casino’s table limits and licensing, into municipal code at the request of the state Bureau of Gambling Control. — Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026 With El Niño still strengthening, that window for tropical cyclone development will last longer into fall when the atmospheric pattern that governs our weather is set to change. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 Yet none of these command the soul Whose purpose governs every goal. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 In this model, the LLM should become the adaptive reasoning layer, while deterministic infrastructure governs orchestration, workflows, operational memory, compliance, execution logic and outcome tracking. — Naresh Prajapati, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 The system is designed to operate in subcritical mode and fundamentally changes the safety logic that governs conventional nuclear reactors. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026 The comment was a reference to the once-in-a-decade review of the BBC’s royal charter, which governs its operations and priorities. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governs

Verb

The proceedings will then go forward in a trial format, with an opportunity to appeal if the commission rules against him.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
As such neither, as per Article 16 of the FIGC’s Sports Agents rules on incompatibility and conflict of interest, would have had to leave their roles in the event Pirlo senior secured the Italy job.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026

Definition of rules

Verb

Led by Guido Pagano, PhD, a physics and astronomy professor at Rice University in Houston, Texas, the research team developed a two-knob control system that independently regulates heating and cooling.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Herzog said clock changes disrupt circadian rhythms, the body's internal clock that regulates sleep and other biological functions.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Definition of regulates

Verb

Now, the non-profit operates with around 40 full-time employees, 60 partner organizations and 130 corner stores with a Kanbe’s Market inside.

— Zuri Primos July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
The System Determines Where Effort Goes Every sales team operates inside a structure that determines where effort actually flows.

— Jeff Winters, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of operates

Verb

The State Board of Education supervises public K–12 education across the state, overseeing educational interests in Kansas.

— Zuri Primos July 26, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
David Smith, who supervises the district’s aedes crew, said his team has received an increasing number of service requests for day-biting mosquitoes within the neighborhood.

— Alula Alderson, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of supervises

Verb

The five-member HOA board controls the building; all officers are in the Airbnb business.

— Joan Chrissos, Miami Herald, 28 July 2026
Whenever a single jurisdiction controls a dominant share of processing or refining capacity, investors should assume that export control risk exists, even if markets are not currently pricing it in.

— Anthony Milewski, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of controls

Verb

The mortgage wholesaler sent a letter dated July 16 to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie, urging the agency to modify or postpone the changes.

— Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2026
The Minnesota Department of Health oversees the assisted living facility.

— Conor Wight, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of oversees

Verb

The Goodyear House’s changing menu keeps items exciting, but its Goopy Burger is a tried-and-true favorite.

— Laura Horne July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026
Meanwhile, the Philippines keeps showing the world how a determined state can fight and win on the legal battlefield.

— Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026