RULES Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

rules 1 of 2

noun

plural of rule

as in regulations

a statement spelling out the proper procedure or conduct for an activity read the rules that are posted before you use the pool

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in governments

lawful control over the affairs of a political unit (as a nation) the years during which Russia was under Communist rule

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in traditions

an inherited or established way of thinking, feeling, or doing one of the sacred rules of that ancient society was respect for the elderly

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rules

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule

as in governs

to exercise authority or power over a sea captain who ruled his ship sternly but justly

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as in controls

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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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 rules

Noun

All three said West Point appears to be circumventing the judge's ruling by using a different justification to continue to enforce its speech rules. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026 This exploits a loophole in the government's fiscal rules, as money given to these institutions does not count as extra borrowing. — Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026 Ask it to account for customer-specific contracts, volume discounts, product exclusions, regional rules and exceptions that override each other, and the task changes. — Yoav Kutner, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Under those rules, donated shares generally must be held for five years or until the account's special growth period ends, whichever comes first. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Outside school grounds, politicians are playing recess games and monkeying with the rules, tossing our children around like political footballs. — Hannah Harshe, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026 The result gives mathematicians a geometric way to explore why seemingly reasonable rules for collective decision-making can become impossible to reconcile. — Alex Stone, Quanta Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026 Conflict-of-interest rules may bar some workers and their families from holding certain stocks; the Treasury has moved to ban ESG funds from accounts, but there’s no way for people to keep certain stocks out of their kids’ accounts. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026 These signs that quantum rules might cross over into the macroscopic realm are making many physicists reconsider Many Worlds. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Verb

The Chiefs challenged a catch by the Chargers’ Oronde Gadsden in the fourth quarter that CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore said was out of bounds. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Oct. 2026 For example, if the court rules that religious organizations have a constitutional right to opt out of state antidiscrimination rules while receiving public funds, that principle may not stop at LGBTQ+ rights. — Preston Green Iii, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 Florida High School Athletic Association rules state that runners who don’t participate in district meets are ineligible for region races. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 Rebekka Nygård Bak, an adviser to Greenland’s fisheries ministry, told the outlet that rules requiring bycatch-friendly equipment and better bycatch reporting could also help. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2026 Spain also proposed new data center rules this summer, requiring data centers to source 80% of their electricity from renewables. — April Roach,jenny Lee, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026 The mayor is missing, the mafia is involved, a mad scientist rules the basement and all the prostitutes are vampires. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Stable streaming numbers have served as the backbone to the song’s consistency, as the track rules the Rap Streaming Songs ranking for a 17th week. — Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026 Mandeb Strait are just the latest in a series of violations of the norms and rules governing oceans. — Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rules

Noun

There’s too often little reporting on roller-coaster incidents, in part because rules and regulations can vary by state, and also because most infractions are deemed relatively minor and quickly handled in-house by the various parks.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
But delivering on that promise remains complicated, as businesses still have to juggle banks, payment providers, and a patchwork of regulations.

— Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulations

Noun

In their letter, the bishops attempted to balance human dignity and a right for governments to humanely protect borders.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
The country is divided between rival administrations, each backed by different armed groups and foreign governments.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of governments

Noun

But experts and adherents alike warn that this idea fails to reckon with how different traditions and worldviews can often contradict one another.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
And Saul says that younger heirs often want to preserve their family’s charitable traditions while giving in ways that reflect their own values.

— Joshua Hong, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of traditions

Verb

While Boise officials decide zoning and land use, ACHD governs local streets, and the Idaho Transportation Department controls State Street itself, legally a portion of State Highway 44.

— Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
With different-sized bubbles, the experiment showed that the size of the largest bubble governs the flow direction.

— Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of governs

Verb

Six in 10 families can’t afford the basic cost of living in the battleground districts that will determine which party controls the House, a Washington Post analysis has found.

— Amy L. Wong, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Although Chen Mechan is accused of firing on the Salvadoran’s vehicles, sources said its heavily armed men received backup from Joseph’s 400 Mawozo, which controls the neighboring territory.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of controls

Noun

Some voting laws have changed in Ohio since 2022, including the state eliminating its grace period for receiving mail ballots, a change that forces voters to return those ballots earlier.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Different views on the topic The Justice Department says its actions are intended to enforce federal voting laws and protect citizens’ ballots from dilution.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of laws

Noun

Doe’s case demonstrates just how complex Title IX cases are, even under the more protective policies afforded to accusers by past presidential administrations.

— Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
The globe is thought to have been used in the Oval Office during both Truman and Eisenhower administrations.

— Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of administrations

Noun

LendingTree’s model values the federal child tax credit at $2,200 per child, up from $2,000.

— Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Education and giving back are important values to the family as the project represents for them a broader impact within the natural diamond industry.

— Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026