1
as in to rule
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 to regulate
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 to manage
to look after and make decisions about
the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of govern
Ad-Industry Merger Has Players Wondering With the recent merger of advertising titans Omnicom Group and Interpublic Group, a single entity governs two of the biggest buyers of ad inventory in the business.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The world may have been upended by the war and the ink has barely dried on the Treaty of Versailles, but the society doyennes are doing their darnedest to return to the rituals and rites that used to govern our days.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Its central purpose was to explain the reasons for separation from Britain, not to detail the new republic’s governing principles.
—Thomas Tweed, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
It's become the default mode of governing for majorities in Congress as bipartisanship on major issues fades away.
—ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
The world may have been upended by the war and the ink has barely dried on the Treaty of Versailles, but the society doyennes are doing their darnedest to return to the rituals and rites that used to govern our days.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Its central purpose was to explain the reasons for separation from Britain, not to detail the new republic’s governing principles.
—Thomas Tweed, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for govern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for govern
Verb
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Initially treated as a death by natural causes, the case was later ruled a homicide after an undertaker noticed a knife wound on the back of her neck.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Of course, Wall Street is not ruled by individual trading bets.—
Terry Savage,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These layers and features work together to pull heat away from the body, regulate temperature throughout the night and promote constant airflow rather than trapping warmth.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
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They’re regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to ensure proper safeguards are in place to prevent microscopic cement particles from causing health problems in nearby residents.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The casting has always managed to feel diverse, but in a guileless, incidental way, giving the appearance of multicultural inclusion without espousing any explicitly progressive viewpoints.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Bruins managed to keep it tight through the end of the first, with the Sabres taking that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stay honest, keep your promises realistic, and let the connection adjust naturally instead of trying to control the outcome.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Till the final whistle, or James’ final words, leaving Toyota Center on Friday with a controlling advantage en route to a potential second-round showdown with the defending champs, that desperation was evident.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Still, even as the memes become borderline unintelligible, Kirkslop contains an air of transgression that imbues the otherwise inane edits and images with perverse political undercurrents.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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The group contains multiple doctors and lawyers.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Washington Post,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The last time three carriers operated in the CENTCOM area of responsibility was back in 2003.—
Sarah Dean,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
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Their meteoric rise in just the last year is deeply troubling, and state Attorney General Nick Brown is right to have filed a recent lawsuit to stop Kalshi, one of the largest markets, from operating in Washington state.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The breaks kept coming for Orlando.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
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His office was spare and no nonsense, with a poster from OSHA about the importance of keeping farmworkers hydrated.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The county is overseeing design and construction for the cabins project, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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According to the Lake County website, the auditor oversees ledgers and records affecting county funds, and oversees duties related to the assessment of property and levy and collection of property taxes, among other roles.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Govern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/govern. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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