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
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Relevance
2
as in decree
an order publicly issued by an authority the FCC's ruling regarding the broadcasting of obscenities
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as in prevailing
held by or applicable to a majority of the people the ruling opinion on premarital sex
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1
as in governing
to exercise authority or power over a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly
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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
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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
Caroline Linton, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 The judges also said the district court’s ruling violated a 1996 federal law that hardened immigration enforcement and restricted judicial power on immigration. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025 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
Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 The ruling Communist Party rarely permits freedoms such as independent public polling, so approval ratings don’t tell the tale. —Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruling
Noun
The Supreme Court has not issued an opinion in that case yet, but the ruling could result in new congressional maps in several states. —Caroline Linton, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026 The judges also said the district court’s ruling violated a 1996 federal law that hardened immigration enforcement and restricted judicial power on immigration. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
How would the new ruling impact DACA recipients and first-time applicants? —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025 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
Verb
And in 2022, after a man pointed a gun at Argentina’s then-Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner that misfired, Argentinians accused the ruling party of staging the incident to distract from Kirchner’s corruption trial. —Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026 The ruling Communist Party rarely permits freedoms such as independent public polling, so approval ratings don’t tell the tale. —Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ruling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruling
Noun
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Householder is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of orchestrating the scheme, which FirstEnergy has admitted to underwriting.— Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2026
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Burke checked himself into a low-security federal prison camp in Thomson, Illinois, in September 2024, to start a two-year sentence on his corruption case.— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Abbas signed a decree last year reforming elections in line with some demands of Western donors, including to allow voting for individuals rather than slates.— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
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Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The group noted the projection was revised upward from an earlier estimate owing to an additional year in the budget window and higher prevailing interest rates.— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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The rollbacks included minimum wage requirements for home healthcare workers and people with disabilities, and rules governing exposure to harmful substances and safety procedures at mines.— Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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Track and field’s international governing body decided to allow seven Americans — instead of the usual four — to compete at the world championships in Denmark.— Jennifer McDermott, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Till the final whistle, or James’ final words, leaving Toyota Center on Friday with a controlling advantage en route to a potential second-round showdown with the defending champs, that desperation was evident.— Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
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The company completed a recapitalization in October that cemented its structure as a nonprofit with a controlling stake in its for-profit business.— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Final verdict The Royals still have everything ahead of them.— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Apr. 2026
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Galipo said the verdict also brought some closure for Garcia’s daughters — Emily, 23, and Camila, 17 — who have been dealing with the case for the last five years.— Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While many edicts are necessary to protect public safety, many more are redundant, wasteful and anti-competitive, piling on unnecessary costs and stymieing innovation.— Editorial, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
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But that edict died with him, Vaez said.— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Then last June, the Nuggets snatched Wallace back from Minnesota, hiring him as their new co-general manager alongside his friend Ben Tenzer — another longtime Connelly disciple who’d been a steady hand behind the scenes in Denver’s front office since 2013.— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
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Jacksonville general manager James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen cut their teeth as part of the Rams organization, learning from GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.— Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/ruling. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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