governing

verb

Definition of governingnext
present participle of govern
1
as in ruling
to exercise authority or power over the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in regulating
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression) you need to govern your speech and be able to communicate your outrage without resorting to profanity

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in managing
to look after and make decisions about the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 governing Rather, verifying, governing and trusting the code that AI produces is the true challenge. — Itamar Friedman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The last few weeks have shown his governing style and a remarkable run of papal decision-making where Leo has set the agenda, rather than merely fulfill the appointments set by his predecessor. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 An international force meant to secure parts of Gaza – and allow for the NCAG to begin governing – has yet to materialize. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Bunch has been leading the Smithsonian since 2019 but the institution is overseen by a 17-member governing body, known as the Board of Regents. — Deena Zaru, ABC News, 6 July 2026 Traffic enforcement House Bill 651 updates procedures governing school-zone speed camera enforcement and the collection of civil penalties tied to violations. — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 29 June 2026 In the finals, Israel faced an Australian team already exhausted after fending off South Korea, Japan and Rhodesia (itself in the Asian tournament after being banned in Africa over its white governing regime). — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026 Belgian football authorities are exploring potential options in response, while European football’s governing body UEFA is expected to comment later on Monday. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 5 July 2026 But Persad-Bissessar, who left that summit early, argues the decision violated the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the agreement governing the bloc known as CARICOM. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for governing
  1. ruling
  2. regulating
  3. managing
  4. controlling
  5. containing
  6. operating
  7. curbing
  8. overseeing
Verb
  • Millions have been packing the streets of Tehran to attend slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession, their numbers a show of support for Iran’s ruling regime.
    — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 6 July 2026
  • Leaders from India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have publicly praised bhajan clubbing gatherings.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of ruling
Verb
  • Alysa Guffey After intense pushback to the first draft of the zoning ordinance, the city's Department of Metropolitan, the city agency charged with regulating land use and zoning in the city limits, tweaked the proposal to tighten some regulations.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • When temperatures are extremely high, some people’s bodies can have trouble regulating temperature.
    — Hali Smith July 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 July 2026
Definition of regulating
Verb
  • Portugal’s biggest warning sign came in their final clash, with Colombia managing 24 shots on goal — their most recorded in a World Cup game.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • There’s less enthusiasm for FIFA’s role in managing the World Cup.
    — Linley Sanders, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Definition of managing
Verb
  • The Argentine legend unlocked the Cape Verde defense in the 29th minute, controlling a long diagonal pass with one touch in the box and promptly flicking it over the head of a charging Vozinha.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Intelligent power switches can monitor electrical flow while controlling loads more efficiently.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of controlling
Verb
  • Financial regulation is struggling to keep pace with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, according to European policymakers, who are grappling with how to support adoption while containing risks to market integrity and stability.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • In 2022, a large cluster of cases in Florida was attributed to a Caesar salad kit containing bagged romaine lettuce.
    — Caroline Kee, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of containing
Verb
  • Wayne County prosecutors charged 29-year-old Nicholas Alexander Lee-Nathan with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of operating while intoxicated causing death, and two counts of reckless driving causing death.
    — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • That playbook still works for some businesses, particularly those operating in sectors that continue to attract significant venture interest or those pursuing opportunities that require substantial upfront investment.
    — Wayne Cantwell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of operating
Verb
  • Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • These Forme shorts activate the glutes and abs through biofeedback while curbing joint stress.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2026
Definition of curbing
Verb
  • From overseeing the Dodgers during one of the franchise's most influential eras to remaining involved in ownership and player development across the sport, the family's impact extended well beyond the major leagues.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • The judge overseeing the wrongful death civil case that John O'Keefe's family filed against Karen Read admonished more than a dozen lawyers involved in the case on Wednesday.
    — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of overseeing

Browse Nearby Words

governessy
governing
government
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Governing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on governing

Nglish: Translation of governing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All