RULES Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rules 1 of 2

noun

plural of rule

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

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Relevance

as in governments

lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the years during which Russia was under Communist rule

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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

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rules

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule

as in governs

to exercise authority or power over a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 rules

Noun

Golf’s elite spaces and long-standing rules don’t always make room for those who don’t abide by norms. —

Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 18 May 2026 The piece suggests that for many voters, especially Democrats and left-leaning independents, candidate choice is being driven less by enthusiasm than by anxiety over the rules of the state’s top-two primary. —

Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026 Republicans have been invoking complex budget rules to try to secure passage without any Democratic support. —

Nolan D. McCaskill, USA Today, 17 May 2026 Similarly, Iran has adopted various strategies in an attempt to consolidate its control over the waterway, most recently laying out a set of new rules for vessels seeking safe passage. —

Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 17 May 2026 These rules are still proposed. —

Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026 In 2023, the FDA during the Biden administration cited COVID and changed the rules, which had required women to see their doctors and receive mifepristone in-person. —

Nathalie Marie Palacios, CBS News, 17 May 2026 That’s when the rules for Fool’s Roll started to come together. —

Kristin Shaw, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 Per Instagram rules, this Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. —

AJC.com, 10 May 2026

Verb

Now, nearly a decade later, Hamza is in the inner circle as the kingpin of the Baloch gang that rules the city of Karachi. —

Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 In Gemini — the sign Mercury naturally rules — this planet operates at full speed. —

Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 California rules to boost the number of women, people of color and LGBTQ+ board members were struck down. —

Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 14 May 2026 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB; Indian statutory body monitoring waste and pollution levels nationwide) rules state that such organic waste must be turned into compost or biogas through on-site treatment where possible. —

Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026 The agreement will be halted if the European body rules against it. —

ABC News, 12 May 2026 Technically, the Heat isn’t eligible to trade its 2026 first-round pick because NBA rules prevent teams from being without a first-round selection in two consecutive years. —

Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 11 May 2026 So the Beef Court rules in favor of Rivers. —

Zach Harper, New York Times, 7 May 2026 In a game-changing shake-up of the eligibility rules for the non-English languagecategory, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has expanded the options for submission. —

Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules

Noun

The comments came two weeks after the House rejected DeSantis’ push to pass bills to expand vaccine exemptions for children entering public schools and to install consumer-friendly regulations on artificial intelligence products and companies.

— Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2026
But China sees a transparency issue in the way the rates are imposed, asserting that the carriers are violating filing regulations.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 May 2026