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
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 ruling
Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
In a 22-page ruling, State Judge Matthew Bates said Menzies exhibited cognitive decline.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 12 May 2025
The Chinese Communist Party holds regular exchanges with numerous ruling African political parties.
—Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
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
Its long-term implications for tech oversight, especially when government agencies fail to comply with judicial rulings, could be profound.
—Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
In a 22-page ruling, State Judge Matthew Bates said Menzies exhibited cognitive decline.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Adjective
The governor and her husband are both members of the ruling Morena party.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 12 May 2025
The Chinese Communist Party holds regular exchanges with numerous ruling African political parties.
—Grant T. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 21 Dec. 2018
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
-
In this retrial that started in late April, the single count of third-degree rape the ailing 73-year-old Weinstein faces carries a maximum sentence of four years.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
-
The 9th Circuit found that the trial judge based his decision on calculations of a greater loss than victims actually suffered and gave Avenatti too harsh a sentence.—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
Trump specified in his order that recipients of federal funds from CPB could not, under his decree, send money to PBS and NPR.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
27 May 2025
-
The primary decree being that athletes are not employees.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
The death, in a hospital, was announced by the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body.—
Dylan Loeb McClain,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Whether your board can discontinue maintenance hinges on the co-op’s governing documents and the approval of any change by the requisite voting interests.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Jurors ended the day without a verdict and are due back in Manhattan Supreme Court Monday morning.—
Julian Roberts-Grmela,
New York Daily News,
6 June 2025
-
Written in Latin, the coroners' rolls are records of sudden or suspicious deaths as investigated by a jury of local men, called together by the coroner to establish facts and reach a verdict.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Even states seen as safer for LGBTQ+ people have been navigating these edicts around trans athletes.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
-
The edict: get as many AI features into the operating system as possible.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pecans Pecans — as well as nuts in general — are a great item to buy in bulk at Costco.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
7 June 2025
-
One former board member was Bean’s secretary, who had donated money to his wife’s campaigns for Knox County circuit, general sessions and juvenile court clerk, according to Betty Bean and local news reports at the time.—
Paige Pfleger,
ProPublica,
7 June 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The drug may achieve these benefits by regulating cellular growth and metabolism.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The overconfidence bias represents one of the most pervasive flaws in human judgment, where individuals' subjective confidence in their abilities far exceeds their objective accuracy.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
Involvement in civil litigation took a toll on the financial well being for both, and for Ocean 5 the judgment in favor of the owner’s countersuit appears to have been the sole cause of its insurmountable debt.—
Michael L. Hyman,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share