RULED Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

ruled

verb

past tense of rule

as in governed

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in controlled

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 ruled Lively initially asked for treble damages and punitive damages as well, but Liman previously ruled that those were not available under federal law. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 In May, Judge Darren Steele ruled that the golfer’s drug history would be included in the trial, per court records, despite arguments from Woods’ attorney claiming that they should be kept out, in part for privacy. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026 Blake Lively can recover about $400,000 in attorneys’ fees from Justin Baldoni’s production company over his defamation lawsuit against her, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. — Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 Earlier this month, the judge ruled that construction could continue on the warehouse on Meadowridge Road, which has been tied up in a legal dispute for months. — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 Her death was ruled an accidental overdose involving multiple prescription drugs. — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 Larger rivals Sibanye-Stillwater and Impala Platinum have ruled themselves out of the process, according to the mining publication Miningmx. — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Wheless' husband, who is also a judge, later ruled to seal Ken and Angela Paxton's divorce records. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Japan has been ruled by several empresses throughout history. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled

Verb

Unrivaled remains governed by a 10-player committee, who advise on decisions such as travel and expansion.

— Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Still, Madison’s argument for them recognized the ways in which the people running each branch of government would try to maneuver for supremacy and the impact that would have on the people being governed.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of governed

Verb

How effectively such systems can be controlled, sustained, and employed alongside soldiers will determine whether this unusual configuration becomes a recurring feature of future armored warfare.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
These vehicles have functions and features that can be updated and controlled by software, rather than the mechanics of hardware.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of controlled

Verb

Hobart, Indiana, officers curbed the car and turned it over to Evergreen Park officers, police said.

— Dennis Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
That’s particularly important this year as the wildfire has curbed tourism following a tough winter marred by drought, Ducharme said.

— Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 31 July 2026

Definition of curbed

Verb

Production was kept under wraps entirely; Cohen reportedly showed up in character at Wimbledon this year without tipping off the film’s existence.

— Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 29 Aug. 2026
The 10-play scoring drive was possible in part because of a 17-yard pass from Hyppolite to Ty Hayes on fourth and 5 that kept the possession alive and moved them into the red zone.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of kept

Verb

The woman’s 1-year-old son, Waylon, was properly restrained in the backseat of the Ford Escape, but suffered critical injuries.

— Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
According to investigators, the victim in the case was beaten, restrained with zip ties, and forced into a bathroom where multiple individuals involved shoved the man's head in a toilet.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrained

Verb

However, the report noted that the gap remains substantially wider when measured by value.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
The rise lifted some components of the index into overbought territory, as measured by the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the speed and size of price changes.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of measured

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rule

ruled

ruled (on)

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“Ruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruled

verb

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