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
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in early summer.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
But opponents saw the move as an attempt by López Obrador to strengthen the power of his ruling Morena party by overhauling the very judiciary that often blocked some of his policy proposals.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel for the state Fourth District Court of Appeal in Riverside denied Bonta’s petition, ruling that the petition should have been filed in a Riverside County court.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
Tuesday's ruling reinstates the immigration status of those who came via CBP One and whose status was terminated.
—Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in early summer.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Critics argue the measures target urban, educated, and affluent voters who may not support the ruling Fidesz party.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
But opponents saw the move as an attempt by López Obrador to strengthen the power of his ruling Morena party by overhauling the very judiciary that often blocked some of his policy proposals.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 28 May 2025
Verb
While Maduro’s ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
On Tuesday, a three-judge panel for the state Fourth District Court of Appeal in Riverside denied Bonta’s petition, ruling that the petition should have been filed in a Riverside County court.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
-
Muller ultimately received a sentence of 40 years total for the Dublin attack and their attack.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The city hired a second firm to represent Watts, as the city was legally responsible for covering legal judgments against him despite his federal prison sentence for shaking down a drug courier.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Certain signs, such as the recent decree by the municipal authorities of Damascus confining the sale of alcohol to Christian neighborhoods, are ominous.—
Alvaro Vargas Llosa,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Noboa last year issued a decree blacklisting Hezbollah and Palestinian militant group Hamas as terrorist organizations.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Likewise, prevailing concepts of Hamlet at the time cast the prince as a wan and melancholic, leading critics to bristle at Bernhardt’s energy.—
Betsy Golden Kellem,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Harvesting seed nearby is a way to get plants that are genetically adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and are more likely to thrive.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Brilliant, strong, visionary, a far different approach to governing as that nation’s first woman leader.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite these risks, the five-year plans governing the expensive and time-consuming cleanups at the sites often failed to account for damage posed by flooding from sea-level rise and more frequent storms and wildfire, the IG’s review found.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The vendor chalked this up to Apple controlling the entire update stack, as opposed to Android, where updates are likely fragmented across diverse manufacturers and device types.—
Will McCurdy,
PC Magazine,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Lenney also advocated for controlling the demand side of the market, addressing the housing crunch by restricting who could buy homes by banning large institutions from purchasing them as investments.—
Mark Dee
March 28,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Later on Wednesday, the jury came back and agreed on the verdict.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
These verdicts are consequential for the damages awarded and what the evidence reveals about intent.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also, an edict was issued directing people to use the bathroom of their gender assigned at birth, Brinkmeyer said.—
Vernal Coleman,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
In 2003, as the United States invaded Iraq over false claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction, Khamenei issued a religious edict — a fatwa — declaring nuclear weapons to be forbidden under Islam.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
He was held at the Martin County Jail, though not with the general population.—
Melissa Gaffney,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The all-volunteer Planning Commission considers matters related to land-use planning and development, implements the city’s general plan, reviews development applications and serves as an intermediary between the public and the City Council.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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