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
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of rules
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
Under federal rules, if a complaint about an infant formula — such as a report of an adverse event — shows a possible health hazard, the company must investigate.
—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Companies that don’t follow the new rules would be subject to tens of thousands of fines for each violation.
—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
With a split forming in the courts and with Supreme Court intervention increasingly seen as inevitable, the question isn't whether prediction markets face a reckoning, but when, and who gets to write the rules.
—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
During those talks, the two countries will discuss rules of origin, intellectual property and concerns surrounding Mexico's compliance with labor obligations, the senior administration official said.
—
Aaron Navarro,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Athletes whose eligibility expired by spring 2026 under the traditional model — four years of competition over five years — will not be allowed a fifth year of competition under the new rules that go into effect this fall.
—
ABC News,
1 July 2026
That includes the 2013 Supreme Court decision that allowed states and counties with a history of discriminatory voting rules to make changes without prior approval from the Department of Justice.
—
Gary Fields,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The New York City Police Department, sometimes patrolling on horseback, enforces the rules, such as ensuring that the horses are not working in temperatures that exceed 89 degrees in the summer or drop below 18 degrees in the winter.
—
Andrea Sachs The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
Theresa Clift
july 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
The city has also been fighting Miami-Dade County rules around transit stations that allow developers to substantially scale up residential and commercial projects.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Whether the court rules for or against Shekarchi, the decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
—
Patrick Anderson,
The Providence Journal,
30 June 2026
For example, if your adult child is moving back home, set the ground rules upfront.
—
Jill Schlesinger,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Ahead, learn who’s attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, and who is unconfirmed or has a scheduling conflict that rules them out.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
27 June 2026
Federal Aviation Administration rules bar cities from treating airlines unequally, and the council's action put $90 million in federal grant funding in jeopardy, according to one council member.
—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
He was called to the stewards and slapped with a one-race ban that rules him out of Sunday's Grand Prix.
—
Matt Reigle Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Best player available rules the day.
—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
First, President Dillon asked for existing data centers to be grandfathered in the ordinance, meaning operating data centers can expand without following these rules.
—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2026
Under federal rules, if a complaint about an infant formula — such as a report of an adverse event — shows a possible health hazard, the company must investigate.
—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Companies that don’t follow the new rules would be subject to tens of thousands of fines for each violation.
—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
With a split forming in the courts and with Supreme Court intervention increasingly seen as inevitable, the question isn't whether prediction markets face a reckoning, but when, and who gets to write the rules.
—
Nathan Goldman,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
During those talks, the two countries will discuss rules of origin, intellectual property and concerns surrounding Mexico's compliance with labor obligations, the senior administration official said.
—
Aaron Navarro,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Athletes whose eligibility expired by spring 2026 under the traditional model — four years of competition over five years — will not be allowed a fifth year of competition under the new rules that go into effect this fall.
—
ABC News,
1 July 2026
That includes the 2013 Supreme Court decision that allowed states and counties with a history of discriminatory voting rules to make changes without prior approval from the Department of Justice.
—
Gary Fields,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
The New York City Police Department, sometimes patrolling on horseback, enforces the rules, such as ensuring that the horses are not working in temperatures that exceed 89 degrees in the summer or drop below 18 degrees in the winter.
—
Andrea Sachs The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
Verb
The California Foster Youth Bill of Rights comes into play when deciding what rules the county can place on the youths.
—
Theresa Clift
july 2,
Sacbee.com,
2 July 2026
The city has also been fighting Miami-Dade County rules around transit stations that allow developers to substantially scale up residential and commercial projects.
—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2026
Whether the court rules for or against Shekarchi, the decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
—
Patrick Anderson,
The Providence Journal,
30 June 2026
For example, if your adult child is moving back home, set the ground rules upfront.
—
Jill Schlesinger,
Mercury News,
29 June 2026
Ahead, learn who’s attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding, and who is unconfirmed or has a scheduling conflict that rules them out.
—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
27 June 2026
Federal Aviation Administration rules bar cities from treating airlines unequally, and the council's action put $90 million in federal grant funding in jeopardy, according to one council member.
—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
26 June 2026
He was called to the stewards and slapped with a one-race ban that rules him out of Sunday's Grand Prix.
—
Matt Reigle Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Best player available rules the day.
—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules
Noun
-
This would address the talent gap, reduce housing costs, and fill hundreds of thousands of jobs, despite union resistance and inconsistent state-level regulations.
-
As a new Kansas law restricts phones in classrooms, one Johnson County school district is in the early stages of adopting two new policies to align with the regulations.
Noun
-
On Friday, the Israeli and Lebanese governments agreed a process by which the Lebanese military (LAF) would gradually take control of zones in southern Lebanon.
-
The findings come as governments around the world, including the UK, have proposed social media bans of their own.
Noun
-
Each exchange led to a conversation about how their traditions and lives differed.
-
Andronis describes the restaurant as a traditional Greek taverna set against the caldera cliffs, blending Greek traditions with Santorini’s romance and exclusivity.
Verb
-
The Clean Air Act is the federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources and governs air pollution.
-
Organizers ruled North American country could compete after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which governs the song contest, allowed the CBC/Radio-Canada fully into its fold last week.
Verb
-
Pele controls the ball in the penalty area with his thigh, flips it over the head of the defender and smashes it past a helpless Kalle Svensson.
-
The throttle that controls the aircraft’s engine power originated from an F-18 Super Hornet fighter jet that operates from aircraft carriers, whereas the stick comes from an F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft.
Noun
-
They were reportedly convicted of violating local morality laws under an Islamic Sharia court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province.
-
The agencies also encouraged states with price-gouging statutes to determine whether enforcement actions are warranted under those laws.
Noun
-
Rosie Rios, chair of the America250 Semiquincentennial Commission appointed to the bipartisan group by President Joe Biden, noted she's served on the commission through several administrations.
-
Oversight bodies, including Congress and future administrations, should thoroughly investigate to determine whether there were violations.
Noun
-
The values imparted to me throughout my public school education — equal opportunity, impartial justice, respect for expertise, basic honesty — have been abandoned by a new breed of politician that has turned governance itself into a blood sport.
-
Companies with larger market cap values, such as the top 25 listed below, generally tend to by more stable, while smaller companies can offer higher volatility, but greater growth potential.
Cite this Entry
“Rules.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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