as in monarchs
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
the aging ruler agonized over the choice of an heir
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Recent Examples of rulers
Iran has installed rulers even more conservative and hardline than their predecessors.
—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
In the show Prince Adam is the son of Eternia’s rulers, King Randor and Queen Marlena.
—Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Singh died in 1839, and the Punjabi throne faced frequent changing of rulers for four years until Duleep Singh, a young boy, and his mother, Rani Jindan were left to take over.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The ensuing rulers, the Joseon monarchy, did their predecessors one better.
—Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Though such meetings between rulers have been happening for centuries, they have been formalized in the modern era, and contemporary state visits usually follow a predictable pattern.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 2026
An ancient Turkish name, Aslan was also used as a title for medieval Turkic rulers.
—Lydia Wang, Parents, 12 Apr. 2026
In Hammurabi's ancient Babylon, rulers were already worried about capping interest rates to protect borrowers from exploitation.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 7 May 2026
In the show Prince Adam is the son of Eternia’s rulers, King Randor and Queen Marlena.
—Sanat Pai Raikarall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
Singh died in 1839, and the Punjabi throne faced frequent changing of rulers for four years until Duleep Singh, a young boy, and his mother, Rani Jindan were left to take over.
—Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
The ensuing rulers, the Joseon monarchy, did their predecessors one better.
—Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Though such meetings between rulers have been happening for centuries, they have been formalized in the modern era, and contemporary state visits usually follow a predictable pattern.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 2026
An ancient Turkish name, Aslan was also used as a title for medieval Turkic rulers.
—Lydia Wang, Parents, 12 Apr. 2026
In Hammurabi's ancient Babylon, rulers were already worried about capping interest rates to protect borrowers from exploitation.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rulers
Noun
-
British monarchs are subject to rules and norms meant to prevent them from taking overtly political stands.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The monarchs will meet with families of victims and first responders involved in the attacks.—
Veronica Bravo,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Even before 1492 [and Columbus’s first journey to the Americas], Muslims and Jews were expelled from Spain by the Christian kings, and unfortunately that happened, but in the process Spanish cooking went across the diaspora, across all the Mediterranean.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
19 May 2026
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This exhibition highlights paintings made for Hindu kings in India’s Pahari region between the 1620s and 1830s.—
Washington Post staff,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The meat of the summit doesn’t start until Thursday, when the leaders hold bilateral talks, visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese emperors once prayed for bumper crops, and take part in a formal banquet.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years, dating as far back as Emperor Shen-Nung, the second of China’s emperors (3500-2600 BC).—
Ryan Brennan
May 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Encouraged and frightened by the events at Naples, other sovereigns granted constitutions.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
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Whatever their precise content, the blessings of liberty allow people to be something like sovereigns over their own lives.—
Cass Sunstein,
Big Think,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rulers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rulers. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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