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

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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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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 Reasons for that include a lot of Vikings blitzes and two great plays by safety Jay Ward, a would-be interception ruled a sack and a sack on a blitz. — Ren Clayton, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Downs got several reps against him, allowing a touchdown in red zone work but appearing to break up a pass along the sideline that was initially ruled a reception. — Jon MacHota, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 An autopsy commissioned by the Wells family was ruled inconclusive citing a lack of evidence, while the state’s autopsy report is sealed pending review by a grand jury. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 The jury had already ruled in March that Meta should be forced to pay $375 million in civil penalties for violating New Mexico's unfair practices act. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026 The wreck also contained gold coins issued by four emperors of the Heraclian dynasty, which ruled the Byzantine Empire during the seventh and eighth centuries. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The Baltimore Orioles certainly felt aggrieved Wednesday night against the New York Yankees after Pete Alonso's deep fly to left field in the seventh inning was ruled foul — and the call was upheld on a review. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 The latest trial has left Harry facing a potential bill for millions of pounds after the court ruled he and other plaintiffs in the case were liable for the publisher’s legal fees. — Danica Kirka, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026 In May, the Second Circuit ruled that New York’s law was preempted by federal regulations, specifically the National Bank Act. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruled

Verb

The department exists to preserve some semblance of equal justice in the United States — imperfectly, haltingly, often overbearingly for some and cautiously for others — and help ensure that the nation is governed by the rule of law.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Additionally, the bill would group private detention facilities with licensed behavioral health facilities already governed by strict state operating guidelines.

— Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of governed

Verb

The service got its name from the original Mechanical Turk, an 18th century chess-playing robot that was actually controlled by a human chess master.

— Annie Palmer, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
Social-media feeds controlled by Netflix or Stella Artois will also boost the alliance.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of controlled

Verb

Traces of a silk fabric found near her skull that may have been used as a trim on a hat or bonnet contained metal threads made of pure gold and silver.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
According to German media, the cache in Berlin contained two handguns and ammunition.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of contained

Verb

Moreover, many of the road trip’s corporate sponsors—including Boeing, United Airlines, Royal Caribbean, Toyota, Shell, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Lyft—are regulated by the department Duffy oversees.

— Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
At the same time, researchers have begun to ask whether autonomous clinical AI should be licensed and regulated more like clinicians than conventional medical devices.

— Arya Rao, STAT, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of regulated

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

With his back against the wall, Smith kept the Giants’ lead intact.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 23 Aug. 2026
HomeServices agreed to pay $250 million of a more than $1 billion settlement to resolve claims that long-standing rules over the splitting of real estate commissions kept them artificially high.

— Alex Crippen, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of kept

Verb

Yet its bodywork is relatively restrained, avoiding the huge wings, complex vents and aggressive appendages found on many contemporary hypercars.

— Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Montes then tried to flee but security staff, an NYPD officer working a detail at the synagogue, and congregants stopped and restrained him, prosecutors said.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of restrained

Verb

But those programs maintained the same course load, measured as credits.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Four of the six competitions Claude was measured against had already published their results where the model could read them, and most of the targets are heavily documented in the literature.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of measured

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ruled

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“Ruled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruled. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ruled

verb

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