GOVERNED Synonyms: 124 Similar and Opposite Words

governed 1 of 2

adjective

as in controlled

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governed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of govern

as in ruled

to exercise authority or power over the president is elected in order to govern the country, not to follow public opinion polls

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as in regulated

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in operated

to look after and make decisions about the company's finances are governed by its chief financial officer

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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 governed

Adjective

The ability to operationalize intelligence in a sustainable, secure, governed and ever-improving ecosystem will be a source of competitive advantage. — Dr. Sanjay Kumar, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Verb

Compounding introduces another regulatory framework governed by federal and state requirements. — Emma Clapp, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Subsequent production numbers, says creative director Alessandro Camilli, will be governed by demand. — Simon De Burton, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 His argument went to the heart of the relationship between government and the governed. — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 The Jerusalem holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has been governed for many years by an understanding between Israel and Jordan. — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026 The health system will be governed by a 20-person board appointed equally from the Rush and Endeavor systems, and led by a chair from Rush. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Winter Springs residents deserve the final say in how our city is governed. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 Though, of course, because Larry is Larry (and therefore governed by a peculiar physics that dictates that every step forward be followed by two in reverse), his year at SNL would prove to be far from a rosy adventure. — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for governed

Adjective

Her controlled world is turned into a site of emotional horror as a new reality dawns, created and dominated by autonomous feelings.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Those tests have covered both controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of controlled

Verb

In May, an Alberta court ruled that a separatist petition seeking to trigger the referendum violated Indigenous rights because the province had failed to consult First Nations.

— Sheena Rossiter, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
Home building plummeted in California and the law of supply and demand ruled.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruled

Verb

Supplements, on the other hand, are regulated under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which holds manufacturers responsible for ensuring that their supplements are safe and properly labeled.

— Andrew Yockey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Like other supplements, creatine is not FDA-regulated for safety and effectiveness, so the onus is on the consumer to choose a trustworthy brand.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulated

Verb

The service previously operated the EC-130Q for TACAMO duties from 1963 through 1993, according to Lockheed Martin.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The team’s last-second win over the Philadelphia Eagles last week in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was organized and operated by the NFL, part of the league’s more standard rotation of all teams playing overseas.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of operated

Adjective

Confining Employees To Rigid Roles As a business grows, team members with rigid, constrained scopes may stop working or supporting others outside their existing scope.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The models were being tested for hacking capabilities in an isolated testing environment with constrained network access and had their normal safety checks off as a result, according to the company.

— Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of constrained

Verb

The papers are said to have contained highly sensitive information, some likely supplied by Germany’s intelligence partners – so the affair could have serious international ramifications at a time when Europe is facing grave security threats.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
Failure by itself did not create an advantage, but previous performance still contained useful information about what a founder might do next.

— Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of contained

Verb

Cybersecurity And Functional Safety Are Converging Cybersecurity and functional safety have traditionally been managed as separate disciplines, although today they are increasingly considered part of the same operational risk environment.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
After the initial disclosure, Acme took several meetings with a mix of studios and filmmakers eager to understand how a project managed to dramatically lower costs.

— Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of managed

Adjective

The sheer black fabric included embroidered botanical elements, adding a touch of whimsy to the restrained look.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Either way, Rahimi balances the character’s clear vulnerability with just enough ambiguity about his plans for the school, accentuated through Majidi’s restrained and naturalistic approach.

— Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrained

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Style

“Governed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/governed. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of governed

adjective

verb

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