RULE (ON) Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

rule (on)

verb

Definition of rule (on)

as in to decide

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) the coach ruled on the question of whether an off-campus bar fight ought to disqualify someone from the team

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for rule (on)

Verb

That decision, handed down just before noon Friday, all but ensures the issue will reach the Supreme Court and be decided there before polls close Tuesday.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
The couple decided to tie in both of their cultural backgrounds through other planning decisions.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of decide

Verb

Give the city, the district and potential partners the time to determine whether co-location can work before making a decision that cannot easily be undone.

— Tim Lonergan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Establish a panel of coaches, athletic directors and players to determine a reasonable figure and all athletes being paid will receive that amount.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of determine

Verb

Earlier this month, Minnesota Vikings fans who’d settled in for the team’s matchup with the Miami Dolphins were surprised to see a Paxton ad show up during one of the in-game breaks.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Does not America offer any inducement for men to settle here?

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of settle

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.

Browse Nearby Words

ruled out

rule (on)

rule out

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Style

“Rule (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rule%20%28on%29. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of rule (on)

verb

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