1
as in regulations
a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity
read the rules that are posted before you use the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in governments
lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation)
the years during which Russia was under Communist rule
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in traditions
an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing
one of the sacred rules of that ancient society was respect for the elderly
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in governs
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in controls
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rules
Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
But the rules and limitations differ for each group.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Open alcohol containers are now banned in Fort Lauderdale's special entertainment districts as the city moves to tighten rules aimed at improving safety.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
In addition, up to $35,000 of unused 529 funds can be rolled tax- and penalty-free into a Roth IRA for your nephew, subject to various rules.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Following appropriate rules of engagement is the burden of the government agent.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Because of an adjustment to the rules, however, such a scenario will not take place when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
These may include skipping meals, ignoring hunger clues, relying on rigid food rules and cutting out entire food groups, according to Garcia-Benson.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Judge rules federal prosecutors can't seek death penalty Mangione, 27, is facing both federal and state charges in the 2024 killing of Thompson.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Their one ring rules all the others.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
That motion would delay the publication of the presentment until a judge rules on the appeal.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Football rules the roost, and everyone in college athletics knows it.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Few might have imagined that the touchscreen technology that rules the world of devices today was actually ideated back in the 1960s.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Autopsy rules Good's death a homicide More than two weeks after she was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office ruled the death of Renee Good a homicide.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
Shortening the dead period would allow for continuous training, rules education and film review—exactly what's needed to maintain consistency.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
There are rules about a team winning too often, and the Hawks have picked in the top three for three straight years.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.
—Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
But the rules and limitations differ for each group.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026
Open alcohol containers are now banned in Fort Lauderdale's special entertainment districts as the city moves to tighten rules aimed at improving safety.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
In addition, up to $35,000 of unused 529 funds can be rolled tax- and penalty-free into a Roth IRA for your nephew, subject to various rules.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Following appropriate rules of engagement is the burden of the government agent.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Because of an adjustment to the rules, however, such a scenario will not take place when the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots play in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
These may include skipping meals, ignoring hunger clues, relying on rigid food rules and cutting out entire food groups, according to Garcia-Benson.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
For people that are not tracking what that actually means, that means that ICE can do almost no arrests in the entire country … If a court rules that there’s a final order of removal, they’re removed actually by an administrative warrant, not a judicial warrant.
—Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Judge rules federal prosecutors can't seek death penalty Mangione, 27, is facing both federal and state charges in the 2024 killing of Thompson.
—Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Their one ring rules all the others.
—Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
That motion would delay the publication of the presentment until a judge rules on the appeal.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Football rules the roost, and everyone in college athletics knows it.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Few might have imagined that the touchscreen technology that rules the world of devices today was actually ideated back in the 1960s.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
Autopsy rules Good's death a homicide More than two weeks after she was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, the Hennepin County medical examiner's office ruled the death of Renee Good a homicide.
—Arkansas Online, 24 Jan. 2026
Shortening the dead period would allow for continuous training, rules education and film review—exactly what's needed to maintain consistency.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules
Noun
-
Toews cites Post Falls, near his North Idaho hometown, as a city cutting regulations of its own accord.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Air quality regulations and programs are loosening their restrictions.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Contributions from governments and nonprofits will not count toward the limit, per the IRS guidance.—
Jeanne Sahadi,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Lai’s sentencing could heighten Beijing’s diplomatic tensions with foreign governments.—
Kanis Leung,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His music, holding a foot in the future and the past, is homage to Puerto Rican traditions, heavy on salsa, with notes of hip hop, big band, indie rock and reggaeton.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Having the mayor respecting the traditions of others is critical.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That affiliation reflects the electoral system, not how a judge governs on the bench.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps some enterprising Democrat or Republican will come along who exhibits more faith in our constitutional system, governs with the foresight that there are more elections to come than just the next one — and reaps the benefits.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As more of the efforts face legal challenges, courts could indirectly dictate who controls the House of Representatives next year based on which hyper-partisan maps are allowed to be installed ahead of midterm elections.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Appian co-founder CEO, chairman, and president Matthew Calkins controls about 39% of the voting power, two of the other three founders are on the nine-person board with many other directors being former employees of Appian or having relationships with Calkins.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Straight men, in particular, are only talked about, kept in the background, or appearing as authority figures trying to uphold absurd laws and traditions.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Often, competitive incentives offered by state governments, state laws that are less friendly to labor unions than many northern states and access to major transportation networks are among the reasons behind the industry’s rise in the South.—
Brian Moody,
AJC.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In prior administrations, including during my time in the Obama administration, such leverage ran into statutory guardrails under the Taiwan Relations Act, which obligates the United States to provide Taiwan defensive capabilities.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Although previous administrations allowed immigrants to have bond hearings, the past is the past, Jones wrote.—
Ben Fenwick,
Oklahoma Watch,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Of course, the genre dictates that a seemingly sure thing be vexed, and this rom-com is no different.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Vancouver, however, is absolutely considering the possibility of utilizing Lankinen as a shootout specialist and is willing to bring him in cold for the end-game event if the situation dictates it.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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