1
as in sentence
a decision made by a court or tribunal regarding a case it has heard
the controversial ruling by the state's supreme court caused an uproar
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority
the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people
the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over
a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in controlling
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
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Recent Examples of ruling
Lars Daniel, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In a ruling dripping with irony, Circuit Judge Keathan Frink denied to issue an injunction because Stevens had withdrawn as a candidate to support a third contender, Commissioner Todd Drosky, the only logical choice for mayor (who has this newspaper’s endorsement).
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Herman J. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2014
Between 1995 and 2022, there were only 308 successful kidney transplants in Myanmar, according to ruling junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s office.
—Teele Rebane, CNN, 30 Aug. 2024
Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
However, spring begins on a sour note, as Venus—your ruling planet—will station retrograde in Aries as of March 1.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
This important ruling recognized that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their physical movements as recorded through cell site location information.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In a ruling dripping with irony, Circuit Judge Keathan Frink denied to issue an injunction because Stevens had withdrawn as a candidate to support a third contender, Commissioner Todd Drosky, the only logical choice for mayor (who has this newspaper’s endorsement).
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Governments in Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Zambia, to cite just a few examples of moderate regimes that the U.S. government admired, routinely diverted public revenues to private pockets through their ruling political parties.
—Herman J. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2014
Between 1995 and 2022, there were only 308 successful kidney transplants in Myanmar, according to ruling junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s office.
—Teele Rebane, CNN, 30 Aug. 2024
Verb
This decision is part of broader litigation challenging the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), with several district courts ruling in favor of the Treasury's position on the CTA's constitutionality.
—Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024
However, spring begins on a sour note, as Venus—your ruling planet—will station retrograde in Aries as of March 1.
—Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
-
The charge carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison, the Associated Press reported.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Just over a year into his sentence, Wedding had a wedding of his own behind bars.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Very little of what Musk says, what the government has said in court cases challenging many of his decrees, and what federal agencies have actually done overlap.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
26 Feb. 2025
-
The decrees are barbs in culture wars, over gender issues and the rights of transgender people, as the New York Times has noted.—
Agustín Fuentes,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The lawsuit alleges that the park’s ownership violated Florida’s laws governing mobile home evictions, including by raising rents within 90 days of issuing the notice to vacate and by not offering the homeowners’ association the first right of refusal to purchase the land.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2025
-
The terms governing the use of the character are set out in a 71-page license agreement executive summary which was released in a 2014 hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes,
3 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The case still has a long way to go before a verdict will be reached and IA's fate potentially decided.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Following the verdict, Superior Court Judge Elizabeth C. Leaming sentenced Jean-Baptiste to 364 days in prison.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The historical irony of an order, essentially a government edict, striking so hard at one of the nation’s 35 accredited TCUs, or Tribal Colleges & Universities, does not escape him.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Despite event cancellations and temporary closures at other presidential centers, the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin remains unaffected by edicts from Washington, a top official tells Axios.—
Asher Price,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The Mavericks have endured a number of injuries to their roster, and the loss of Dončić is something no one saw coming due to the ownership and general manager Nico Harrison.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
-
These three new books explore such decelerations, and seek to move from urbanism toward a more general political philosophy.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Even the bed—a plush, temperature-regulating masterpiece—felt like it had been engineered specifically to cradle you into the best rest of your life.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
30 Dec. 2024
-
On the other hand, if your social media app of choice elicits feelings of insufficiency, and self-control resources are burned up by exerting will power to avoid consuming products, or regulating hard emotions, than that experience is important to notice.—
Ellen Choi,
Forbes,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The emerging workflow models suggest letting AI handle repetitive elements while humans focus on the aspects requiring artistic judgment.—
Moin Roberts-Islam,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Between some good judgment on the part of parents, fellow diners showing a bit of grace, and restaurants wanting to extend hospitality to families, the presence of kids in pricey restaurants doesn’t have to provoke such rage.—
Maggie Hennessy,
Bon Appétit,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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