RULES (ON) Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

rules (on)

verb

present tense third-person singular of rule (on)

as in decides

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 rules (on)

Verb

Yannis decides to go for STP, a Black Forest gâteau, and a Mary Berry’s recipe for Queen of Desserts, which is a mix of breadcrumbs and custard with jam and topped with meringue.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Federal agencies have overlapping jurisdiction over captive marine mammals –– for sea lions, the USDA oversees their welfare and NOAA decides who can keep them for public display.

— Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decides

Verb

How the Fed affects your money The Fed's benchmark interest rate determines what banks charge one another for overnight loans.

— Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
In this setup, the angle between the polarized light and the polarizer determines how much light can pass through the latter.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of determines

Verb

For an adolescent navigating friendships, rejection, identity and belonging, something that never judges them or gossips and is always available can be incredibly compelling.

— Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026
He was seen on the CBS broadcast giving one of the side judges an earful.

— Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of judges

Verb

Waititi never settles on one either, most often opting for a glibness that treats key aspects of the plot, including Klara’s rudimentary faith, into something like a joke.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Smoke from fires in the Sierra foothills, the North Coast and the northern Sacramento Valley often settles over Sacramento, and late-summer smoke tends to arrive during heat waves.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of settles

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.

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rules

rules (on)

rules out

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“Rules (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rules%20%28on%29. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rules (on)

verb

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